Re: Fixed wireless may be the answer
Unfortunately, Fixed wireless is not the answer for the majority of these people.
Linknet are already a fixed wireless provider - the reason they are closing their doors is that because of the takeup of NBN Fixed Wireless (where it's available) it's no longer viable for them to even break even in this area, which is quite mountainous and therefore needs a higher tower density. And that's where they already have the infrastructure in place - another provider would have even higher barriers to entry.
It's not just the township of Mullumbimby itself, but also the surrounding areas such as Ocean Shores, Brunswick Heads, and Sunshine Beach.
The NBN fibre rollout isn't scheduled in these areas until 1st half of 2018, which means those in the township, who in theory actually fall within the fixed wireless transmission zone, cannot get it because "you're going to be getting fibre". Eventually. In about 2 years. If there aren't any delays.
The other issue is that a large proportion of these customers signed on with LinkNet because although they are eligible for ADSL, there are no ports left at their exchange (and have not been for several years).
So, no ADSL, no Fixed Wireless (either existing or future planned), and no Fibre for at least 2 years.
All in all, there doesn't appear to be a way out for these residents, other than taking out a 24-month contract for Telstra 3/4G wireless Internet, which in some instances could be up to 10 times the cost given their existing Internet usage patterns, and that's even if there is were available plans catering for that much data in the first place. Furthermore, in many instances the terrain means that there is no cellular coverage, so there's no Internet service of any kind until NBN satellite kicks off, but that's going to take even longer than Fibre...