I’ve been covering regional tech for a while now, and I’ll be honest—I’ve grown pretty skeptical of NBN announcements. But this time feels different.

NBN Co has confirmed that substantial fibre upgrades are rolling out across the Grampians region through August and September, with Stawell, Ararat, and parts of Horsham getting priority attention. As someone who grew up near Stawell and still has family there, this one hits close to home.

What’s Actually Happening

The upgrades focus on replacing ageing fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) infrastructure with fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) in selected areas. In plain English? The fibre cable will run directly to your property instead of stopping at a box down the street.

For businesses in the affected areas, this could mean:

• Download speeds up to 1000 Mbps (up from typical FTTN maximums of 100 Mbps)
• More consistent upload speeds—crucial for anyone running cloud software or video calls
• Better reliability during peak usage times

The Towns Getting Attention

Stawell is seeing upgrades in the CBD and surrounding residential areas. I spoke with a mate who runs an accounting practice there, and he’s been dealing with dropouts during tax season for years. He’s cautiously optimistic.

Ararat has several business precincts included in this rollout. The council has been pushing for this for ages, and it’s good to see results.

Horsham is getting a partial upgrade, focusing on the eastern suburbs and some industrial areas near the highway.

What About Everyone Else?

Here’s where I have to be realistic. These upgrades don’t cover everyone. If you’re outside the designated zones, you’re likely stuck with your current connection for now. NBN Co has a coverage map where you can check your specific address.

For those in really remote areas, the situation hasn’t changed much. Fixed wireless and satellite remain the options, though I’ll be writing about Starlink comparisons soon—it’s becoming a genuine alternative for some properties.

My Take

After 15 years working in Melbourne tech, I’ve seen how much faster, reliable internet can transform what’s possible for businesses. Moving back to regional Victoria, that gap was stark. These upgrades won’t solve everything, but they’re a meaningful step.

If your business is in the upgrade zone, I’d recommend:

1. Check your address on the NBN website
2. Contact your ISP about switching plans once the upgrade completes
3. Consider what you’d do with faster speeds—cloud backups, better video conferencing, new services

The work is scheduled to complete by late October 2024. I’ll report back on how it actually performs once we’ve got some real-world data.

For those still waiting, I hear you. Keep making noise with your local council and federal member. These rollouts tend to go where the squeaky wheels are.