THE rollout of the nbn™ network in Shepparton is helping to push the region into a new digital era with almost all homes and businesses now able to connect to a service through a phone or internet provider.
As the region reaches this milestone, new research gathered through the Connecting Australia report reveals Australia is estimated to move from being in the bottom 10 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries for internet equality to the top 101 by 2021.
Its research shows access to fast broadband is spurring growth in new businesses in the broader Hume region and is projected to help contribute to the creation of 190 – 560 additional businesses by 2021 due to the ‘nbn™ effect.’
It also estimates that an additional 270 – 590 people will work primarily from home by 2021, and an additional 430 – 820 Hume residents could be self-employed as a result of the nbn™ access network.
Head of nbn™ local Victoria and Tasmania, Ebony Aitken said, “We are proud today to announce Shepparton is of the most connected regions in the state. Across regional Victoria, more than 83 percent of homes and businesses are now able to connect.
“Our research shows this connectivity revolution is spurring rapid growth in the digital economy and regional businesses across within the area. In part due to the arrival of fast broadband, the City of Greater Shepparton is better positioned to compete with its urban counterparts. Residents can work from home and create new business opportunities.”
