Five Ways to Prepare Your Business for the NBN Roll Out

NBN business-grade internet is rolling out, and the benefits that come with it are substantial. Not only will Australian-based companies be able to provide their customers with a better online experience and increase their online presence, but these companies will be able to market their products and services to a much broader audience and gain exposure to international markets.

If you like the thought of getting extremely fast internet and plan to switch to NBN as soon as you can, here are five easy steps you can take to ensure your business has a smooth transaction from start to finish.

Check and See if Connection is Possible Yet

The first thing you want to do for your business is check to see if your area went through the NBN rollout yet or if you’re still on the waitlist. You can check by typing your business’s address into the NBN Co’s website. It’ll tell you if it’s available in your area, or you can click on their map and look. If the map has shading in your area, the NBN rollout happened. If it isn’t, you should see a projected date. You can also register to get an email that will tell you when NBN goes live in your area.

Find Out Which Connection You Have

Five Ways to Prepare Your Business for the NBN Roll Out

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If this service is already available in your area, you’ll have to find out the kind of NBN connection you have before you pick a provider. The NBN map will display the type of connection you have, and the NBN Co uses seven different technologies, and they include: 

•             Fibre to the Building (FTTB) – Suitable for office blocks and apartments, this connection uses a fibre optic cable and connects it straight to the existing wiring in the building.

•             Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) – This type of connection runs a fibre optic cable to a distribution point on the footpath from the exchange. Once it gets to the distribution point, it gets connected to copper wires that are already in place.

•             Fibre to the Node (FTTN)– A fibre optic cable runs to a node in your general location from the exchange. Copper phone wires then connect the exchange to your building. 

•             Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) – This connection involves having a fibre optic cable running to your business from the exchange.

•             Fixed Wireless – This connection transmits data via a tower in your local area to an antenna on your business’s roof.

•             Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial (HFC) – Existing TV network cabling connects the exchange to your business.

•             Sky Muster (Satellite)– One of two NBN satellites transmits data to more remote areas and businesses

Get in Touch With a Service Provider

There is a broad range of service providers available that sell NBN plans, and you have to find out which ones are in your area. Once you do, you can start comparing plans and prices to see which one is the best match for your business’s needs and wants. You have to talk to the providers about the best connection speeds. This connection speed comes from a calculation involving the type of internet activities your business partakes in and the number of users. Other things to discuss with your potential provider include:

•             Additional Equipment – Will you need more equipment or wiring for your internet or phone services? If so, what are the costs?

•             Compatibility– Is your existing equipment like emergency switches and alarms compatible with the NBN? You do have to register with an NBN to find out the compatibility.

•             Location– The connection location is very important. You need to have a dry, cool and well-ventilated area that is close to your power supply for the connection. 

Install the Network

Install network - Five Ways to Prepare Your Business for the NBN Roll Out

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Once you picked out your provider and your plan, the provider will arrange to install your connection and send an NBN-approved technician out. You want to keep your current connection on and active until the technician gets your NBN up and running in case they run into delays or problems. Your service provider will try to arrange the earliest date possible to send a technician out, but wait times can be as long as around three weeks. Your wait time depends on the technician’s availability in your business’s area.

Have a Backup Plan Just in Case

Once your technician gets your NBN plan in place and running, you’ll get fast connectivity. It also brings access to a broad range of technologies that can enhance your business’s day to day operations. But, it’s important that you remember that outages do happen, and they’re simply a part of having an online dependence.

Outages can come from both man-made and natural circumstances, but you want a contingency plan in place if your business can’t afford to be offline for more than a day or two at most. There are a few ways you can build this backup plan into your NBN service, and they include:

•             Consider having two delivery methods for your NBN connection with two separate lines where it enters your building.

•             Have two service providers for your NBN service. Sign your business up with two providers, so if one should go down, the other will stay operational.

•             Have your technician install two connection types. This can be an ethernet connection and a secondary connection like wireless through the same NBN provider.


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