Connecting Hinchinbrook with nbn and Telstra

Recovery Officer Jane Carne, Chamber of Commerce Industry and Tourism President Mary Brown, Rachael Cliffe and associate from Telstra, and Casie Scott from nbn. Photo credit: Victoria Velton

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Hinchinbrook residents had the opportunity to put their connectivity questions directly to nbn and Telstra representatives during a pop-up event at the Woolworths carpark in Ingham on Wednesday 5th August.

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The event was an opportunity for Testra to work alongside nbn to help locals better understand the services available to them.

Both organisations provided face-to-face advice on internet services, mobile coverage, account options and new technology, while also highlighting upgrades and changes taking place across the region.

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“Great to partner with nbn today. There’s a bit of myth busting on both sides, I think, as to whose network does what, and who's responsible for what.” said Telstra’s Rachael Cliff.

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Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism President Mary Brown said the opportunity was particularly valuable as Hinchinbrook continues its recovery.

“Since recovery, we’ve had nbn in town doing work around the hardware that’s needed, and people being able to come in and actually talk to someone face-to-face is really important, especially with our older demographic,” Mary said.

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nbn Representative Cassie Scott said there were plenty of positive developments to share with communities across Hinchinbrook, highlighting significant upgrades to fixed wireless networks in coastal and inland communities, including Forrest Beach, Taylors Beach and Abergowrie, with higher-speed plans now available to eligible residents.

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Residents were encouraged to check their addresses to see whether they are eligible for a free nbn Fibre to the Premises upgrade.

The upgrade can provide fibre all the way from the exchange to the individual home or business, offering faster speeds, less buffering and greater capacity for multiple people to be online at once.

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“Fibre to the premises is a lot more resilient, and particularly in a flood region like Ingham,” Cassie said.

Representatives from Telstra were also on hand to discuss changes in mobile technology, including the company's satellite-to-mobile services.

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Eligible Telstra customers with compatible devices and plans can now send and receive SMS messages via satellite when outside mobile coverage, provided they have a clear view of the sky. For people who regularly travel, work remotely, head offshore or spend time in areas without mobile reception, the technology could provide an additional way to stay connected.

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Rachael Cliff also used the event to remind customers about upcoming changes to older telecommunications services, including the retirement of the CDMA radio network and ADSL network.

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Customers receiving communications about these changes were encouraged not to dismiss them as potential scams, with Rachael confirming the notifications are legitimate and designed to help customers transition to newer services.

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The pop-up also gave locals the chance to review their accounts, discuss available plans, explore handset options and ask questions about who is responsible for different parts of the telecommunications network.

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