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Bendigo will be one of 85 regional centres to receive a dedicated business fibre zone within the next three years.
The zones are part of a broader $4.5 billion national network investment, of which $700 million is earmarked to support business innovation, growth and productivity.
Businesses within these zones will have access to a premium-grade offering, with wholesale prices for service providers reduced by as much as two-thirds.
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Bendigo's proposed business fibre zone captures the entire central business district and parts of surrounding suburbs, including Golden Square, Quarry Hill, Epsom and White Hills.
Strathfieldsaye, Marong, Junortoun and Maiden Gully are some of the suburbs the business fibre zone won't cover.
Bendigo Telco executive director Kevin Dole said the telecommunications provider is keen to work with excluded townships to expand its private network into those areas.
"We have invested significantly in our own fibre network and are keen to work with communities around how we can expand," Mr Dole said.
"We are still finding in areas of Bendigo and the broader region that a digital divide exists and that needs to be addressed.
"The business fibre network is great for CBD-based businesses and should provide opportunities to enliven the area and broader precinct."
NBN Co chief development officer, regional and remote, Gavin Williams said businesses are the lifeblood of local economies.
"Our investment will help ensure the NBN plays an important role in the livestock and agriculture industries, tourism, hospitality and the arts," he said.
Earlier
A plan by the National Broadband Network to create 240 business fibre zones, including in Bendigo, has been welcomed by Telstra regional manager Steve Tinker.
An explanation of the proposal will be part of Mr Tinker's presentation to Bendigo's business community on Wednesday evening, as part of Be.Bendigo's After 5 event.
"The business fibre zone is positive for Bendigo as it will allow businesses to access a high-quality fibre network," Mr Tinker said.
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"Telstra understands there is some more detail to come on the proposal and we are very curious to understand any impacts to overbuilding existing infrastructure."
On September 22, NBN said it will invest up to $700 million over three years to help businesses be more connected to the network than ever before.
With businesses using premium-grade NBN solutions to support remote file storage, content hosting and to connect branch offices across locations, NBN said its investment will give those users more flexibility and reliability.
Bendigo's proposed business fibre zone captures the entire central business district and parts of surrounding suburbs, including Golden Square, Quarry Hill, Epsom and White Hills.
"A benefit of these zones is that a business service can have prioritised traffic over a network and symmetrical services, so you can upload as strong as you can download," Mr Tinker said.
While some businesses are content using consumer level broadband services, others will require a more robust service as they grow and expand.
"This new service is something we should look forward to and hopefully attracts more businesses to regional areas, post coronavirus," Mr Tinker said.
Be.Bendigo chief executive Dennis Bice said Bendigo's suburbs are growing and that any network expansions should deliver services to those growing areas.
"I don't think it will stop businesses operating in those areas, but it will make it more difficult," Mr Bice said.
"If the business community can work with the service providers to explain their requirements then hopefully that will make a significant difference in how we operate in the future."