What Is the National Broadband Network (NBN)?

Personal Alert Victoria & the National Broadband Network

Information for PAV applicants

Personal Alert Victoria (PAV) is funded by the Victorian Government and provided by Peninsula Health Mepacs. PAV relies on clients having a telephone service, and it is the PAV client’s responsibility to have a telephone to get and maintain access to PAV. You have been provided this information because you live in an area where the National Broadband Network (NBN) has already been built, or is scheduled to be built, and it may affect your access to PAV.

What is the National Broadband Network (NBN)?

The NBN is an upgrade to the infrastructure that supports telephone services and internet services (not just the internet). In most areas of Victoria the NBN is replacing the copper telephone line network. It is being rolled out to all Australian households over the next 10 years.

Once the NBN is installed in areas of Victoria people have 18 months to connect to an NBN retail telephone/internet service provider. After 18 months the copper telephone network will be disconnected.

What does this mean for PAV?

For the PAV alarm unit to work properly on the NBN a UNI-V port and battery backup is required.

The UNI-V Port provides the right voice quality for your medical alarm and there are only a few services that support the UNI-V Port.

For a list of services that support the UNI-V port and battery back up and have been tested with PAV equipment call Peninsula Health Mepacs 1800 451 300.

The battery backup (optional and highly recommended) will provide at least 2 - 3 hours of telephone connection when there is an electricity power outage.

You need to tell the NBN retail telephone/internet service provider you need the UNI-V Port and battery backup.

What will happen if you do not take action?

If you do nothing your home telephone will not work, your service will be disconnected, and you will not be able to have PAV. Once your telephone service is disconnected, you may have to pay additional costs if you change your mind and want to connect your home telephone to the NBN in the future.

Department of Health What do you need to do? If the NBN is in your street you need to connect to an NBN retail telephone service. Please notify Peninsula Health Mepacs 1800 451 300 if you are planning to connect to the NBN. Peninsula Health Mepacs can provide you with support and information to help you move to an appropriate service provider. When arranging a service on the NBN make sure you ask for a UNI-V Port and battery backup. Please notify Peninsula Health Mepacs when you are connecting to the NBN, and before any works to connect you start. If you have already connected to an NBN retail telephone service provider but you find out they do not support the UNI-V port or provide battery back up, you should not be disadvantaged for leaving your current arrangement/contract. This is because retail telephone/internet service providers must offer ‘a fit for purpose’ service. In this case it means a UNI-V Port and back up battery to support your PAV medical alarm. If you require further information or assistance in the transition please do not hesitate to call Peninsula Health Mepacs 1800 451 300.

Authorised by the Victorian Government, Melbourne. To receive this publication in an accessible format phone 9096 8770 or email [email protected]. This information may be found at http://www.health.vic.gov.au/agedcare/services/pav/ .

Department of Health