NBN Posts Growth As Footprint Expands
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As the rollout of the NBN continues around the country, NBN Co has reported revenue and user growth in the six months to December 31, stating that it is on track to meet its full-year targets.NBN Co’s total revenue was up 152 per cent to $164 million year-on-year, while average revenue per user grew from $39 to $43 per month.

A net loss after tax of $1.24 billion, up from $902 million, is attributable to early stage investment in capital expenditure and operational cost, NBN Co stated. NBN Co recorded capital expenditure of $2.13 billion, up from $1.43 billion.

End-user activations were up 128 per cent to 736,000, while the number of premises that can order the NBN reached nearly 1.7 million in the period, seeing the addition of 450,000 homes and business.

“Today’s result solidifies 2015 as a year where we met or exceeded every target the board set for the company, and is a clear signal we will reach our fiscal year goals,” NBN Co CEO Bill Morrow stated.

“There is accelerated growth across all areas of the network, while important milestones are continually achieved with customers, industry partners and the NBN workforce.”

The period saw the commercial launch of NBN Co’s fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) product, with NBN Co stating that more than 120,000 premises are now ready-for-service, with more than 600,000 premises currently under construction and a further 1,289,000 in design and preparation.

NBN Co states that it is on track to meet the full-year ready-for-service footprint target of 500,000 FTTN premises.

“We are now seeing the early signs of the network being built at scale, with the construction of fibre-to-the-node rapidly extending the footprint to homes and businesses,” Morrow commented.  “We are also encouraged by the end-user demand in our initial launch areas.”

The first of NBN Co’s two satellites, Sky Muster, was also launched during the period, with testing being undertaken ahead of the planned launch of commercial services in the coming months.