NBN extends sunset date by three years

Companies within the early stages rollout footprint of the NBN that are still using legacy special network services will have more time to migrate their systems to the NBN before the networks are disconnected.

Businesses that became ready for service over the NBN before September 2015, which are still using asynchronous transfer mode, integrated services digital networks (ISDN) and broadband digital subscriber lines (BDSL) network services, will now have three years from the date the business became ready for service to complete the migration of these services, nbn announced.

This migration is not automatic and businesses risk losing connectivity if they do not complete the switch before the disconnection date, the company warned.

The normal 18-month window remains for businesses to migrate their internet, landline and other services — such as connections for ATMs and EFTPOS — to the NBN.

In order to help businesses complete this migration of special services, nbn has developed a series of white papers outlining the new disconnection dates and the benefits of making the switch.

Ben Salmon — nbn’s executive general manager of business products and services — said the company is encouraging all Australian businesses to make the switch to the NBN as soon as possible. He encouraged businesses within the early rollout footprint to speak to their ISPs and special services providers to develop a plan to migrate rapidly.

Salmon said around one in three businesses are ready for service over the NBN today, and the company aims to make this one in two by mid-2017.

“nbn is well positioned to meet the needs of Australian businesses and has a comprehensive product suite available for micro, small and medium businesses, which includes high and symmetrical speeds, enhanced service levels as well as committed information rates,” he said.

“We are already seeing the benefits of businesses who have successfully connected their services over to the [NBN] and are now embracing applications such as cloud storage, video collaboration and accounting tools to maximise efficiency, lower operating costs and improve work/life balance.”

Image courtesy of Ian Burt under CC

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