Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor has announced the arrival of fast broadband into Wombat.

A new fixed wireless tower near the village has been activated, offering residents internet speeds more than twice as fast as city-based ADSL connections.

Announcing the news in parliament this week, Mr Taylor said Wombat was racing ahead. “The Coalition Government promised to prioritise fast broadband to the bush - and this week another milestone has been reached.

“In the village of Wombat, the NBN has arrived! As Wombat residents are just about to find out, the fixed wireless network uses advanced 4G technology, delivering speeds of up to 50megabits per second.

“I had the great pleasure of visiting the Wombat Pub last month – a terrific small business, which has been continuously trading since the 1870s. Brian, the publican, tells me they’ll be chasing up an NBN connection very soon,” Mr Taylor said.

He said the NBN rollout continued across Hume, with reports of great improvements in internet speed.

Kelly Rolfe, a business manager from Young said: “Since we signed up to the NBN we haven’t had any problems. Before, our internet was cutting in and cutting out and now things are downloading really quickly.”

Mr Taylor said Hume would receive fast broadband – in a mix of technologies - to 31 and a half thousand premises in the next 18 months. Already fixed wireless towers are activated in Bribbaree, Cowra, Canowindra, Gooloogong, Koorawatha, Monteagle, Mount Weedalion, Murringo, Noonbinna, Young, and now Wombat. Towers are to be switched on in Stockinbingal, Mr Gibraltor, Mount McDonald and Woodstock in the next few weeks”.

He said potential customers could see the areas served by NBN Co’s fixed wireless service at www.nbnco.com.au/maps and order a new service by contacting a retail provider.

Caption: Angus Taylor on a recent village visit to Wombat where the fixed wireless NBN tower has just been activated.