National Broadband Network rollout expanded as Sydney's Blacktown switches on

More than 1.35 million premises have been added as next in line to receive high-speed fibre-optic broadband, NBN Co., the company put in charge of building the National Broadband Network, has announced.

The plan adds almost 190 new towns and groups of suburbs, as well as more homes and businesses in areas covered by the previous plan.

This brings to 4.85 million the number of premises that will have construction commenced or where services can be ordered by June 2016.

Blacktown has become the first suburb of Sydney to switch on to the National Broadband Network (NBN).

The NBN now "passes" 1,300 homes and businesses in Blacktown with a further 9,300 premises in the area to come online over the coming months, including premises in Lalor Park.

In April, the NSW Central Coast connected to the NBN with the service available to more than 2,300 homes and businesses in central Gosford.

NBN Co. CEO Mike Quigley said: “We’re getting on with the job of rolling out the NBN in every state and territory. Our plan is to deliver better broadband to every Australian over the remaining eight years of this 10-year build.”

Of the 188 Australian-wide suburbs added to the NBN construction timetable; 66 suburbs were in NSW including Sydney’s Bondi and 46 suburbs in Queensland which included Airlie Beach and the Sunshine Coast.

In South Australia there were 20 suburbs including rural towns Ceduna, Port Lincoln and Salisbury, 15 suburbs were listed in Western Australia including Esperance, Margaret River, Port Hedland and Yunderup and 41 suburbs in Victoria listed Angelsea, Glen Iris and North Melbourne.

The nationwide rollout of the NBN is due to be completed by 2021.

The latest locations next in line to receive the NBN are:

Victoria

New South Wales

Queensland

South Australia

Western Australia