NBN quietly removes all non-FttP areas from build prep map

The National Broadband Network (NBN) company has confirmed that it has removed from its "build prep" maps all areas that are not having fibre-to-the-premises (FttP) network technology rolled out there.

The rationale behind removing all areas from the build prep map that are slated to be connected using other network technologies -- including fibre to the node (FttN), fibre to the basement (FttB), hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC), and fixed-wireless -- is that since streets and driveways are not being disrupted by construction, residents do not need such lengthy notification.

"We don't do build prep on maps anymore," an NBN spokesperson said in a tweet on Tuesday night.

"Only new devs. We are not digging up drive ways, and [it's] not seen til construction."

New housing development areas, which receive FttP, will continue being shown on NBN build prep maps.

Build prep maps were added back in 2014 in an effort to make the NBN rollout more visible.

Following the Coalition's election at the end of 2013, NBN moved away from Labor's full FttP rollout to the present so-called multi-technology mix (MTM), which proposes to cover 20 percent of the population with FttP; 38 percent with FttN and FttB; 34 percent with HFC; 5 percent with fixed-wireless; and 3 percent with satellite services.

NBN is also looking at adding fibre to the distribution point (FttDP) into the technology mix as an FttN replacement once the technology has graduated from the trial phase.

NBN on Tuesday announced its financial results for the 2016 financial year, reporting earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) of negative AU$1.572 billion, a 39 percent increase from last year's negative AU$1.13 billion.

Revenue for the 12-month period was AU$421 million, a year-on-year increase of 157 percent from the AU$164 million announced in FY15.