Emerald gets broadband rollout | Emerald News | Local News in Emerald

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EMERALD is one of six regional centres chosen for the first round of the government's $250 million priority rollout of the National Broadband Network.

The government was moving rapidly to deliver the network starting with high-speed infrastructure for an initial six regional locations, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said on Wednesday.

The initial priority locations to receive investment are Emerald and Longreach in Queensland; Geraldton in Western Australia; Darwin in the Northern Territory; Broken Hill in NSW; Victor Harbor in South Australia, and southwest Gippsland in Victoria.

Senator Conroy said he had launched a competitive tender to construct, operate and maintain backbone links aimed at stimulating competition and better broadband services in regional Australia.

Construction is expected to start by September.