Shepparton’s connectivity has improved dramatically in recent years. But “improved” doesn’t mean “solved.” Businesses still face significant variations depending on location, and rural properties remain underserved.

Here’s the current landscape and what to expect.

The NBN Situation

Shepparton’s CBD and established suburbs have reasonable NBN coverage. Most businesses can get FTTP or FTTN connections delivering functional speeds.

The NBN Co rollout map shows current availability. If you’re in a green zone, you have options.

FTTP areas: Central Shepparton, parts of Mooroopna, newer developments. These get the best speeds—up to 1000Mbps downloads available.

FTTN areas: Older suburbs with copper running the final stretch. Performance varies significantly based on distance from the node. Some businesses get excellent service; others struggle with congestion and inconsistency.

Fixed wireless: Outer areas rely on wireless connections. Performance is reasonable for basic needs but limited for bandwidth-intensive operations.

Business-Grade Options

For businesses needing guaranteed performance, several options exist:

NBN Enterprise Ethernet: Dedicated fibre connections with service level agreements. Available in more areas than people realise. Costs more but delivers reliability.

Private fibre: Some areas have alternative fibre providers. Worth investigating if NBN doesn’t meet needs.

Mobile backup: Using 4G/5G as failover when primary connections drop. Telstra and Optus coverage in Shepparton is generally good.

The Rural Gap

Properties outside urban areas face different realities.

Fixed wireless degrades with distance and obstacles. Properties at network edges get inconsistent service.

Satellite NBN (Sky Muster) is available everywhere but has latency that makes real-time applications difficult. Fine for email; frustrating for video calls.

Starlink has become a genuine alternative for rural properties. I’ve written about real-world testing before—performance varies but is often better than alternatives for remote locations.

For Food Processing Businesses

Shepparton’s food processing sector has specific connectivity needs.

Modern processing requires real-time communication with suppliers, logistics providers, and markets. Systems tracking produce from paddock to processor need reliable data transmission.

“We can’t afford connectivity outages during harvest,” one processor told me. “Trucks are moving, suppliers are coordinating, buyers are waiting. If systems go down, we lose money.”

For critical operations, redundant connectivity is becoming standard—primary NBN plus mobile backup, or dual providers where available.

Upcoming Improvements

NBN Co has announced regional upgrade programs that include Shepparton-area improvements:

• Some FTTN areas scheduled for FTTP upgrade
• Fixed wireless capacity increases in progress
• Enterprise Ethernet expanding to more business areas

Timelines are approximate and subject to change. Check NBN Co directly for current status of your specific address.

Workarounds and Solutions

Businesses managing with imperfect connectivity have found solutions:

Shift timing: Heavy uploads and downloads scheduled for off-peak hours when networks are less congested.

Local processing: Keeping data processing on-premises rather than relying entirely on cloud services.

Compression and optimisation: Reducing bandwidth needs through technical efficiency.

Mobile solutions: Using mobile networks for specific tasks where reliability matters most.

Acceptance: Acknowledging limitations and building processes that accommodate them.

None of these are ideal. They’re adaptations to reality while infrastructure catches up.

Cost Considerations

Connectivity costs vary significantly:

• Basic NBN business plans: $99-150/month
• Higher-tier plans: $150-300/month
• Enterprise Ethernet: $500-2000+/month depending on speed and SLA
• Starlink business: Currently $750 upfront plus $220/month

The right investment depends on how critical connectivity is to your operation. Some businesses can tolerate occasional issues; others need guaranteed uptime.

What Would Help

Regional businesses consistently request:

More FTTP: Copper degradation means FTTN performance will only worsen over time. Fibre to premises solves long-term issues.

Better fixed wireless: The physics of wireless limit what’s achievable, but improved capacity and reduced congestion would help.

Competitive alternatives: Where only NBN is available, pricing pressure is limited. Competition drives improvement.

Clear upgrade timelines: Knowing when improvements are coming helps businesses plan investments.

These requests aren’t new. Progress happens, but slower than businesses want.

Taking Action

For Shepparton businesses unsatisfied with current connectivity:

1. Check what’s actually available at your address—options may have expanded since you last checked
2. Compare providers—same NBN infrastructure, different service and support quality
3. Investigate enterprise options—might be more affordable than assumed
4. Consider alternatives—Starlink or private fibre may suit specific situations
5. Plan for redundancy—if connectivity is critical, single points of failure are risky
6. Advocate—contact NBN Co, federal representatives, and industry bodies about infrastructure needs

Connectivity is infrastructure. It’s not optional for modern business. The Goulburn Valley’s economic future depends partly on continuing to close the digital gap.

Progress is happening. It’s not fast enough, but it’s real. Keep pushing.