NBN Co is responding to a shift in Australia’s internet usage patterns that will occur as more people choose to work, study, shop and stream more content at home as the nation responds to the impact of COVID-19 (the Coronavirus). During this period, digital connectivity will also be a primary channel for people to stay in touch with family and friends.
NBN Co’s team of data scientists and network engineers have planned for and strengthening the network to help meet residential data demand that will likely surge over the coming days and weeks.
nbn Chief Executive Officer Stephen Rue said:
“The nbn is part of Australia’s critical infrastructure, and the role of the network has never been more important than now and what we see unfolding over the weeks ahead. For many Australians, the nbn and other broadband and mobile networks will become the primary channel for work, study, entertainment, ordering food and maintaining contact with the outside world.
“We are actively working with retailers and have the complete support of our government stakeholders to ensure we do everything possible to optimise the nbn to support the expected increase in residential use.
“We are in the fortunate position that more than 90 per cent of the national broadband network rollout has been delivered across the country, so the vast majority of Australians already have access to fast, reliable, secure broadband, which will serve them should they need or want to spend more time at home.”
nbn Chief Customer Officer – Residential Brad Whitcomb said:
“We are absolutely committed to supporting customers at this crucial time and we have built considerable strength and resilience into our network. We are ready to add additional capacity as required to produce the best possible customer experience.
“Most home internet plans are used primarily to download (web browsing, movies, music) and as such have great download speeds. But when it comes to working from home you may have a greater need for uploading large files or joining Skype calls, so speak with your internet retailer to make sure your plan has the upload speeds you need to work from home.”
To ensure customers get the best in-home experience from the nbn, there are some important things to consider:
Top tips:
Get the right speed
1) Not all internet plans that you buy from your retailer are created equal. If your internet is slow it may be because you are on an entry level internet plan. Call your internet retailer and talk to them about the number of devices you have connected and how you are using the internet to find out if you have the right retail plan to support your needs.
Get the right plan
2) Most home internet plans are used primarily to download (web browsing, movies, music) and as such have great download speeds, but are not as strong when it comes to uploading. When it comes to working from home you may have a greater need for uploading files and joining Skype calls so speak with your internet retailer to make sure your plan has the upload speeds you need to work from home.
Get optimum performance
3) Keep your modem in a central location in the home, ideally close to where you’re working from. If it is housed in a cupboard, under a desk, or at the other end of your house this will reduce the speed you receive.
4) Some routers may not deliver the best performance and speeds. If you are concerned about the age or quality of your router or modem, seek advice from your internet retailer on possible upgrade options.
5) If your internet is down, it could be your Virtual Private Network (VPN) settings that you use to access your corporate intranet and files. Check to see if Google or other websites are working. If they are, then you may need to consult with your organisation’s IT help desk for remote networking troubleshooting advice.
For more information and advice visit: https://www.australian-retailers-association.com/updates-for-retailers-coronavirus/
For more tips and FAQs, visit: https://www1.nbnco.com.au/blog/the-nbn-project/coronavirus-covid-19-and-nbn-working-from-home-tips-and-faqs?utm_source=vanity&utm_medium=vanity_URL&utm_campaign=workingfromhome
