Whilst serviceable premises increased 35 per cent to almost 750,000 in the six-month period, National Broadband Network (NBN Co) recorded an earnings-before-interest loss of $A497 million (an increase of four per cent year-on-year) and operating expenses of $A562 million (up 12 per cent year-on-year).
Despite the losses, telecommunications revenue for the company increased 191 per cent year-on-year to $A64 million, with end users increasing 53 per cent to approximately 322,000.
Average revenue per user (ARPU) rose from $A3 to $A39 year-on-year, driven by greater demand for capacity from NBN retail service providers.
The company also announced an improved weekly run rate of 8,900 serviceable premises in the six-month period, up from 5,670 a year earlier and tracking towards 10,200 per week for February 2015 (12 week rolling average).
In total, NBN Co incurred $A1.4 billion in capital expenditure for the six-month period, an increase of 21 per cent year-on-year. The life-to-date capital expenditure for the company now stands at $A7.1 billion.
In its earnings announcement, NBN Co said it was on track to meet its full-year targets of one million serviceable premises, 480,000 active end users and approximately $A150 million in annual revenue.
Hobart, Darwin and Sydney hook up
Mid-February also over 28,000 households and businesses throughout the state and territory capitals of Sydney, Hobart and Darwin transition to the NBN.
Following the roll-out of the NBN to Western Sydney in January, approximately 20,000 homes in Sydney are expected to connect to the broadband network by 20 March, with the NBN moving east from the suburbs of Penrith and Blacktown through to Homebush.
In Tasmania, more than 7,600 homes transitioned to the NBN in February, with the network progressively replacing most exiting landline phone and internet services in parts of Launceston and downtown Hobart.
Finally, approximately 700 homes and businesses in Darwin City became the first recipients of the NBN in the Northern Territory.
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