Government funded National Broadband Network operator NBN Co today reminded Australia's development industry of new arrangements to provide fibre broadband infrastructure in new estates.

Homes and businesses in new developments will be among the first to be connected to the fast speeds offered over the NBN, according to NBN Co chief executive Mike Quigley.

NBN Co said the development industry has embraced the change with more than 70 online applications submitted by developers requesting fibre for their new developments since New Year's Day when NBN Co's online application process went live.

More than 2,000 pre-existing development applications, representing some 70,000 premises in new developments, are expected to be submitted in January and NBN Co is preparing to start work in these developments in the first quarter of this year.

Developers will be required to install "pit and pipe" infrastructure to NBN Co's standards in order for their development to benefit from a fibre installation.

NBN Co plans to pass 172,000 premises and provide and establish an active service to some 132,000 premises in Greenfield estates by June 2012.

Quigley said, "There is a great opportunity to maximise efficiency and lower costs when fibre is installed at the early stages of a new development."

However, the speeds actually experienced by end-users will depend on a number of factors including the retail broadband plan they choose, their equipment and their in-premises connection, according to NBN Co.