A community fed up with poor internet will soon have a solution, and it’s all thanks to a crowd funding campaign.
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Kangaroo Valley residents have struggled with poor internet connections for many years, and according John Sinclair, who runs an internet service provider, the NBN caused more harm than good in the village.
The solution to a community frustrated with bad internet connections seemed simple to Mr Sinclair- build a broadband network specifically for Kangaroo Valley residents.
With the help of friend and resident Peter Botsman, a crowd funding campaign began in June, with the aim of creating the Kangaroo Valley Broadband Network. The campaign had a dollar target of $120,000 and subscriber target of 120.
On Tuesday afternoon, the target was met, and the Kangaroo Valley Broadband Network (KVBN) finally became a reality.
A dream of Mr Sinclair’s for the past 12 years, the The KVBN is a wireless broadband network designed to ensure high quality broadband is available to households and business in all of the pockets and corners of Kangaroo Valley.
“Now that we have the subscribers there is a whole lot to do,” Mr Sinclair said.
“People are getting very excited and even though we’ve reached the target people are still subscribing.”
Under the project, up to 10 or 12 new towers will be installed, and would give access to 90 per cent of residents in Kangaroo Valley.
The towers will be linked via radio over Cambewarra Mountain to Nowra where a fibre optic connection will link the Valley to the core internet in Sydney.
Once the larger network is established Kangaroo Valley Broadband Network will deploy micro-pops, very small towers, to serve those “nooks and crannies” that are really out of the way.
“I’m making final decisions about the sites of the towers now,” Mr Sinclair said.
“I’m also working out licensing and making decisions about which radio equipment to use. It’s a very big job.”
Mr Sinclair said he expected the first installations to be completed by Christmas.
A Pozible spokeswoman said the Kangaroo Valley campaign ranked 36th in terms of the amount raised on the platform.
The top spot is the Victorian town of Buchan, where more than $600,000 was raised to build a pub.
Madeline Crittenden
Madeline Crittenden is a journalist for Fairfax Media at the South Coast Register.
Madeline Crittenden is a journalist for Fairfax Media at the South Coast Register.
