By Paul Hemsley

Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy has slotted another piece of the National Broadband Network (NBN) puzzle into place, rolling out the new fibre optic infrastructure in Hobart, Tasmania.

Hobart’s connection to the NBN closely follows the Tasmanian government inking a deal with internet service provider iiNet to link its core network between police stations and the state government using the new network.

A core element of the Tasmanian Department of Police’s deal with iiNet was that it was the first state government policy agency to sign up for the NBN, with half of the department’s police stations scheduled for access to better internet services through the NBN by 2014.

According to the federal government, Hobart is the fifth site in Tasmania to connect to the NBN. This follows the hook up from Triabunna, Sorrell, Deloraine and Kingston Beach.

Senator Conroy urged Tasmanian residents in Hobart to make the switch to the NBN’s “superfast broadband” as more than 34,500 Australians have already made the technological leap.

“The cost of the NBN for customers is cheaper than or comparable to what people are paying now, but the NBN provides a vastly superior service,” Senator Conroy said.

Senator Conroy was joined by his Tasmanian Labor colleagues federal Minister for Community Services Julie Collins, Senator Carol Brown and Senator Lisa Singh, who unanimously praised the federal government efforts to link the island state with the rest of the country through the NBN.

Ms Collins said this is an “exciting time” for local residents who will now be able to experience the benefits of faster, more reliable broadband through the NBN.

Senator Brown said around 1800 homes and businesses can now connect in Hobart as work has also commenced in Kingston, St Helens, Launceston, Bellerive and Sommerset.

“This construction is expected to be completed during 2013,” Senator Brown said.

Senator Singh said Tasmania has a “great a head-start” (sic) on the rest of the country and will be the first state to be fully connected to the NBN by mid-2015.

NBN Co’s community relations manager for Tasmania Lalla McKenzie said the NBN is helping to foster “real competition” among phone companies and ISPs in Tasmania.

“That helps drive affordable retail prices for families,” Ms McKenzie said.

According to Ms McKenzie, every provider has equal access to the network and NBN Co's prices are the same in the city and the bush.

Ten internet service providers have lined up to gather Hobart’s residents and businesses to sign up to the NBN including Telstra, Optus, iPrimus, Spintel, iiNet, Exetel, Commander, Westnet, Internode and MyNetFone.

Launceston, Bellerive and Sommerset.

“This construction is expected to be completed during 2013,” Senator Brown said.

Senator Singh said Tasmania has a “great a head-start” (sic) on the rest of the country and will be the first state to be fully connected to the NBN by mid-2015.

NBN Co’s community relations manager for Tasmania Lalla McKenzie said the NBN is helping to foster “real competition” among phone companies and ISPs in Tasmania.

“That helps drive affordable retail prices for families,” Ms McKenzie said.

According to Ms McKenzie, every provider has equal access to the network and NBN Co's prices are the same in the city and the bush.

Ten internet service providers have lined up to gather Hobart’s residents and businesses to sign up to the NBN including Telstra, Optus, iPrimus, Spintel, iiNet, Exetel, Commander, Westnet, Internode and MyNetFone.