DUBBO residents are one step away from having the National Broadband Network turned on but the fibre connecting locals to faster internet could be threatened under a Coalition government, Labor candidate Brendan Byron claims.
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NBN Co said almost 90 per cent of the work was done in the lead up to the physical fibre hauling and connection of the fibre network.
A spokeswoman said the company was in the detailed design process and had Telstra remediation as a last step.
"The same time next year the fibre should be connected and ready to go," the spokeswoman said.
The roll out of the NBN started in March. Areas of south Dubbo were earmarked to be the first recipients in the city of the internet system.
One housing estate is already hooked up. Surrounding areas in Dubbo are already connected to the fixed wireless internet.
Mr Byron said if he was elected he would ensure the NBN would reach every community in Parkes and they had fair and equal access to affordable high-speed broadband.
"By the end of 2015, everyone in the most rural and remote parts of the country not in the fibre footprint will be covered by either the NBN's new, dedicated satellite or fixed wireless systems - guaranteeing access to speeds that are faster than anyone in metro areas can get today over copper ADSL broadband," he said. The Federal Coalition is strongly opposed to the NBN, a prime Labor Government project. It has stated it will introduce an alternative if elected.
But, the incumbent MP for Parkes, Mr Mark Coulton of the Nationals has said that Dubbo will not have split internet connections.
He pledged not to rip up the National Broadband Network (NBN) out of the ground until he discussed how it had progressed.
Mr Coulton promised to be "sensible" about removing, if necessary, the NBN.
"It doesn't make sense to have two forms of technology in the city," he said.
"I will look at the progress and assess if contracts have been made."
Mr Coulton said the Coalition's plan would prioritise the broadband rollout, so that the areas where the need is most severe would be addressed first.