As the national broadband network (NBN) ramps up its business-grade service provision, it's important Australian organisations start factoring it into their telecommunications plans.

That's the word according to UXC Consulting, who says organisations must consider what benefits the NBN may have for their business, if they want to take full advantage of new capabilities.

“Many organisations putting together telecommunications roadmaps and strategies for the next five years are unsure what impact the NBN might have on their enterprise networks,” explains

Mark Ochota, regional director, Adelaide, UXC Consulting.

“While micro-businesses are relocating to suburbs that already have the NBN to take advantage of the bandwidth, the question remains: how relevant is it to larger businesses or government organisations with industrial-strength WANs?

The NBN is ramping up for business-grade service provision. Most of the existing telco services that large business and government networks rely on will be withdrawn, with the process completed in as little as three years in some areas, Ochota explains.

“This means that organisations need to factor the NBN into infrastructure planning,” he says.

“Some of UXC Consulting's clients are trialling the NBN wireless service as a way to connect their regional offices directly into their corporate WANs,” says Ochota.

“They are enjoying substantial increases in performance at a fraction of the cost they are used to paying.

“That said, the ability to establish direct connections between major centres is still a requirement so even organisations operating only in state capitals will find their networks will eventually be heavily reliant on NBN services,” he explains.

Ochota says organisations can contribute to the direction of NBN services now.

“The NBN is telling us they are not getting enough input. Organisations should think about what the retirement of existing telco services will mean, and start engaging to have some influence,” he says.

“Organisations should also talk to their existing carriers regarding their stance and how they plan to deliver services as the NBN comes on line.

“This radical reshaping of the Australian telecommunications landscape makes it the ideal time to get independent advice on how to plan your enterprise communications and ICT infrastructure for the next five years, and beyond,” says Ochota.