MEDOWIE Christian School could have to spend $10,000 to get the best out of the national broadband network.
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Independent schools will have to pay for the fibre optic extension from the street, like businesses, if they want the very fastest speeds.
“It means we’ll have to find the money to deliver the speeds we need,” principal Simon Herd said.
“Learning is no longer about text books it’s about connecting to other communities to help educate children – our school is about developing global-minded students.”
Mr Herd was among business leaders who attended an update on the NBN rollout as part of a Port Stephens Council economic development luncheon on February 10.
The school might have to cut back in some areas when it changes to the NBN but the benefits are expected to offset the pain.
“It took two hours to upload a four minute YouTube video the other day,” Mr Herd said.
“And with cheaper NBN contracts it will actually save us money in the long term.”
NBN Co community affairs manager Ian Scott said fibre-to-the-node, and copper connection from the node to premises, would in 90 per cent of cases provide 50 megabits per second download and 20 mbps upload capability.
“There’s not that many businesses that have taken up the fibre extension,” he said.
“[But] schools are like a small city in terms of traffic.”
NBN roll out timeline
Work is expected to start on the NBN rollout in Medowie, Lemon Tree Passage, Mallabula, Salt Ash and Tanilba Bay in the second half of 2017.
Ferrodale, Heatherbrae, Tomago and Raymond Terrace can expect work to start in the third quarter of 2016.
Parts of Fullerton Cove will see a start to work in the fourth quarter of 2016.
In more isolated parts of Fullerton Cove, Anna Bay and Swan Bay there are 820 connections that will be made via fixed wireless – these homes and businesses will use a wireless connection to an NBN-enabled tower.
Work on Nelson Bay connections - most of Anna Bay, Boat Harbour, Corlette, Fingal Bay, Fishermans Bay, One Mile, Salamander Bay, Shoal Bay, Soliders Point and Taylors Beach – began in December 2015.
Once the infrastructure is in place NBN Co will notify people when they can make the change.
