I regularly hear from businesses in the Ararat and Pyrenees region about connectivity struggles. It’s time for an update on where things stand and what options exist.

NBN Status

The NBN rollout is technically complete across the region, but “complete” masks significant variation.

Ararat Town

The Ararat CBD and surrounding suburbs have reasonable NBN coverage. Recent FTTP upgrades mean some areas now have access to high-speed fibre connections.

Check specific availability at nbnco.com.au. Street-by-street variation exists.

Surrounding Towns

Stawell: Mix of FTTN and some FTTP. Generally functional for business needs.

Beaufort: FTTN coverage in town. Performance varies with distance from nodes.

Avoca: Basic NBN coverage. Fixed wireless in some surrounding areas.

Rural Areas

Properties outside towns face the familiar challenges:

• Fixed wireless with variable performance
• Sky Muster satellite with latency limitations
• Some areas with no practical NBN option

The divide between town and country connectivity remains stark.

What’s Changed Recently

Several developments worth noting:

FTTP upgrades: NBN Co’s regional FTTP program has reached some Ararat areas. Businesses in upgraded zones can now access speeds up to 1000 Mbps—a significant improvement.

Fixed wireless improvements: Some capacity upgrades have improved fixed wireless performance in certain areas. If you tried fixed wireless years ago and found it inadequate, it may be worth retesting.

Starlink maturity: SpaceX’s service is now well-established in Australia. For rural properties, it’s often the best available option despite cost.

Current Options by Scenario

CBD Business (Ararat, Stawell)

Best option: Check for FTTP availability. If available, this is the clear choice. Fallback: Business-grade FTTN with appropriate speed tier. Backup: Mobile broadband on major carriers.

Town Fringe

Best option: FTTN if available and node is close. Alternative: Fixed wireless if FTTN performance is poor. Backup: Mobile broadband.

Rural Property

Best option: Starlink for most use cases. Alternative: Fixed wireless if tower is nearby and performance tests well. Fallback: Sky Muster with realistic expectations about latency. Supplement: Mobile boosters for specific high-priority uses.

Remote/Very Rural

Best option: Starlink Business for reliability priority. Alternative: Sky Muster with acceptance of limitations. Creative option: LEO satellite aggregation as more providers launch.

Cost Comparison

Current approximate monthly costs:

Option	Setup	Monthly
NBN FTTP (100Mbps)	$0-100	$99-120
NBN FTTN (100Mbps)	$0-100	$89-99
NBN Fixed Wireless	$0-100	$69-89
NBN Sky Muster	$0-100	$69-89
Starlink Residential	$599	$139
Starlink Business	$750	$220
4G Mobile Broadband	$0-50	$59-99

Note: Enterprise options exist for higher reliability/speed requirements at significantly higher cost.

Reliability Considerations

For businesses where downtime is costly:

Dual connectivity: Primary NBN plus Starlink or mobile backup provides redundancy.

Failover routers: Equipment that automatically switches between connections when primary fails.

UPS for networking: Internet is useless if power outage takes down your router. Uninterruptible power supply protects against brief outages.

Upcoming Developments

Watching for:

Further FTTP expansion: NBN Co continues regional upgrades. Advocate to be included in future tranches.

5G fixed wireless: As 5G coverage expands, fixed wireless options may improve for some areas.

Satellite competition: Starlink isn’t the only LEO satellite provider. Competition may improve options and pricing.

Government investment: State and federal programs occasionally fund regional connectivity. Stay aware of opportunities.

Advocating for Better

If your connectivity is inadequate:

Document the problem. Speed tests, outage logs, business impact assessments. Evidence matters.

Contact NBN Co. Their complaint and feedback processes can trigger reviews.

Engage elected representatives. Federal member for connectivity (it’s federal infrastructure), state member for regional development, local council for advocacy.

Work collectively. Business associations, community groups, and regional bodies have more voice than individuals.

Media attention. Regional connectivity stories attract media interest. Publicity sometimes accelerates action.

Making Do

For businesses stuck with poor connectivity:

Adapt workflows: Design processes that don’t assume constant high-bandwidth connection.

Cache and sync: Use offline-capable software that syncs when connection is available.

Schedule heavy tasks: Do large uploads/downloads during off-peak hours when performance is better.

Mobile as supplement: Use mobile data for critical real-time needs even when fixed connection exists.

Accept limitations: Some businesses simply can’t operate the way city counterparts do. Build models that work within constraints.

The Broader Picture

Connectivity inequality between regional towns and surrounding rural areas isn’t just inconvenient—it affects economic development, property values, and quality of life.

The Ararat and Pyrenees region has much to offer: affordable land, natural beauty, community connection. But connectivity gaps limit who can realistically live and work here.

Improvement is happening, but slowly. Patience and persistence—while frustrating—remain the required approach.

For those considering the region despite current limitations, I’d say: come anyway. The community is worth it. Connectivity will improve. And in the meantime, solutions exist that make most business operations viable.

We’re working toward digital equity. We’re not there yet. But we’re closer than we were.