OAKESHOTT TO CONTINUE PUSH FOR SMALL REGIONAL ISP’S TO BE PART OF NBN CO.

INDEPENDENT MP for Lyne Robert Oakeshott will continue to advocate on behalf of internet service providers (ISPs) of all sizes to be involved in the broadband roll-out, despite the changing of hands of Port Macquarie-based regional provider TSN.
Mr Oakeshott’s comments follow an announcement last week that TSN had been sold to a Sydney company for business reasons.
“It is important consumers get the best possible price and service through this significant Government spend of up to $42 billion dollars on rolling out fibre-optic broadband to 90% homes within Australia,” Mr Oakeshott said
“This has to be more than a Telstra and NBN Co. deal, and smaller regional ISP’s need an entry point to participate.
“This is a pretty exciting time within the technology space and a lot is happening over the coming decade that will see regions such as the Mid-North Coast go about their business, their education, and their health services in a much more inter-connected way.”
Mr Oakeshott said the options for entrepreneurship and innovation within the regions were “limitless”.
“What is important, however, is that NBN Co. doesn’t run interference on technology advances for and by the regions, and doesn’t run interference on price competitiveness within the industry,” he said.
“These are both important factors for the roll-out to the regions to be a success.”