Aussie soldiers get new broadband network in NBN - Defence Force partnership

NBN has partnered with the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

The partnership will see almost 400 Air Force, Navy and Army sites nationwide gain access to NCN's broadband network.

NBN says one of the major benefits to come from the collaboration is that soldiers and personnel serving at each of the bases will be able to access high-speed broadband to keep in touch with their families and friends across Australia and the rest of the world.

NBN co-chief network deployment officer, Kathrine Dyer comments, "Deploying the world class NBN access network to those who work to defend our country makes all of us at NBN very proud.

"We are using a variety of NBN technologies at these sites, allowing us to meet the unique challenges of our vast country and also the site specifics of each base.

Construction of the NBN network will provide access to fast broadband to non-operational on-base structures and facilities. The sites are currently operating a mixture of legacy services including DSL and PSTN services.

Construction of the network began in September this year. The network deployment, like the rest of the rollout, uses the multi-technology-mix including FTTN, FTTB, Satellite, Fixed Wireless and FTTP.

The network will also benefit on-base commercial assets such as cafeterias and shops which will have access to faster connectivity for conducting business.

Dyer adds, "Once these works are completed it's our hope that communication between our military personnel and their families is vastly better.

The bulk of work completed to date has been at two priority sites in the NT at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Tindal and Larrakeyah Barracks, incorporating HMAS Coonawarra.

Once these sites are complete approximately 20 more sites are to be built before the end of the year.