Feds seek approval of $16 million ad campaign for NBN
The federal government is embarking on another advertising run and pending independent approval, it is set to actively promote the $43 billion National Broadband Network (NBN) as broadband retailers prepare to offer their services in Tasmania, where access will be opened up next month.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said that the $16 million promotional campaign would not touch on any political matters as he cited the need to inform most Australians on the broadband services actual benefits.
The minister gave reminder that not everyone is a tech savvy and most Australians "don't necessarily know how it's going to benefit their kids how it's going to benefit their education how it's going to benefit the aged care needs of the community."
Three internet service providers from Tasmania have offered to deliver broadband services to residents in Midway Point, Smithon and Scottsdale under the NBN and they will be given the option to connect via the new network by next month.
One provider has announced that Tasmanians are poised to enjoy broadband speed that is three times faster than what they currently enjoy at the moment.
iiNet's Gary Chappell has expressed confidence that the Tasmanian market is viable for the NBN services since providers would be able to offer affordable bundled options.
He said that people would eventually realise that new broadband pricing schemes from NBN providers would be pretty comparable especially when "they add in what they are paying for a phone service now when they're paying for their local calls and STD calls and then putting what they're paying for a broadband service now."