Nextgen finishes Victor Harbor NBN link

Nextgen Networks has completed laying a 146-kilometre fibre backbone link to South Australian town Victor Harbor and other rural locations as part of the National Broadband Network (NBN) roll-out, according to a statement issued today by the office of Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.

The heavy lines are existing infrastructure, the light lines are Nextgen Networks' new links. (Credit: DBCDE)

The link has been developed as part of the Gillard Government's Regional Backbone Blackspots Program plan, which aims to deliver 6000km of fibre backbone across regional Australia, in a move that the government claims will benefit nearly 400,000 citizens.

"I'd like to congratulate Nextgen Networks on the completion of this important work and I look forward to seeing the other links across Australia completed this year," he said. "The Victor Harbor link, along with the completed Perth to Geraldton link, which I was delighted to open last week, has been delivered by the government on time and on budget".

According to the media release, Nextgen Networks is currently in the process of connecting retail service providers to the new link.

The ALP member for the associated area of Kingston, Amanda Rishworth, said the completion of the link was the first step in the delivery of the NBN in South Australia. She added that around 27,000 citizens were expected to benefit from the introduction of new backbone services.

"The fibre backbone link to Victor Harbor will allow retail service providers to offer faster and better value broadband services in Victor Harbor and other regional communities of Goolwa, Strathalbyn, Port Elliot, Willunga, McLaren Vale and Mount Barker," she said.

"This is just the beginning and I look forward to the first NBN services coming on in Willunga in the coming months," she said.