The NBN has announced it has now connected more than 10 million homes and businesses to the access network and will complete the national rollout in less than 12 months.
With most of the country connected, the NBN is also embarking on a campaign to help connected households and businesses get the most out of their connection.
NBN recently commissioned some research and discovered that only 42 per cent of customers are confident their home set up is optimised to deliver the best speed and performance.
And 86 per cent of Australian customers are aware that at least one factor can impact their broadband experience including wi-fi quality and where the modem/router is located in their home.
Of those already on the NBN, 68 per cent did their own set up while 26 per cent called in a favour and ask for the help of family and friends.
If given the option of professional help to optimise their Internet connections, 90 per cent would likely to use this service.
“With 10 million homes and business now able to connect to the NBN access network, now is the time to ensure your household internet set-up is optimised to help deliver faster internet speeds,” says NBN chief customer officer Brad Whitcomb.
“Research shows one in four Australians are interested in making their homes ‘smarter’ so getting your set-up right will become increasingly important as we look to power the homes of tomorrow.
“There are lots of factors that can impact your household broadband experience, such as Wi-Fi quality, modem placement and the number of devices connected.”
NBN Co has launched a campaign to help customers get the most of their connection.
In the past we’ve seen the modem/routers supplied by service providers can be to blame.
Not the modem part, that’s what brings the internet into your home, but the router half which creates the wi-fi network that lets customers down.
They think they don’t have a fast connection but it’s actually their wi-fi that’s slow.
Here are some tips from the NBN to optimise your home network.
– Amplify your connection – Thick walls are great at keeping noise out but do the same to your Wi-Fi signal. Consider purchasing a Wi-Fi repeater or mesh wi-fi system to amplify your signal and help get faster speeds throughout your house.
– Your internet signal is weak? – Check for objects that interfere with your Wi-Fi signal such as microwave ovens, televisions, hot water systems, ovens and even your fish tank. Place your wi-fi router/modem in a central location – free from obstructions.
– Check your plan- There are a range of speed plans NBN makes available to internet providers on the network, so chat to your retailer about your internet habits, the number of devices in the home and how many people will be online, particularly during the peak usage times between 7pm-9pm.