QCN Fibre in deal to boost Queensland connectivity

Thousands of businesses in the Darling Downs will soon benefit from better internet connection, thanks to a newly signed deal between QCN Fibre, Toowoomba’s Pulse Data Centre and Over The Wire.

By leveraging spare telecommunication capacity in government-owned fibre networks, the initiative aims to increase the area’s internet speeds 10-fold, playing a vital role in Queensland’s recovery following COVID-19.

“For years, businesses in Toowoomba and the Darling Downs have been left with a second-rate internet connection. We want to end that,” said Minister for State Development, Tourism and Innovation Kate Jones.

“Queensland has about 10,000 km of fibre-optic cabling. About 6000 km of that is owned by the state and isn’t being used to its capacity.

“We are making this available. This will carry business and residential internet and data services at capacities of up to 100 Gbps — that’s about 10 times faster than what Toowoomba has access to now.

“Now more than ever before, it’s crucial for small businesses in regional Queensland to have access to a strong, reliable internet connection. This is vital to our efforts to help Queensland’s economy recover from COVID-19.”

Over the Wire co-founder and Director Brent Paddon praised QCN Fibre and said it has opened up opportunities for regional business.

“The Queensland Government is to be congratulated for this important and timely telecommunications innovation,” he said.

“Not only will QCN Fibre deliver the access, but more importantly it will enable local ISPs and the technology companies to thrive by allowing them to compete on a level playing field against the big national carriers.

“Until now, regional Queensland was not on our radar as we couldn’t compete against the established big carriers.

“QCN Fibre will allow us to challenge that status quo where we can now deliver internet, voice and data services to regional customers at the same price as we do in the middle of Brisbane, with high speeds adding to the point of difference.”

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Chinnapong