Telstra area general manager for south west Victoria Bill Mundy urged residents and businesses still using copper services in Ballarat to switch over to the National Broadband Network’s fibre network and avoid disconnection of their fixed-line services.

Residents in Ballarat North and central, Creswick, Kurunjang, Invermay, Invermay Park, Black Hill, Soldiers Hill, Newington, Lake Wendouree and Redan are all urged to make the switch.

“Traditional copper-based phone, data and internet services will start to be switched off in more parts of Ballarat from February 12,” Mr Mundy said.

“Customers in this area who have yet to switch to the NBN must act now to avoid any potential disruption to their landline and broadband services, so our message is very clear: ‘please get your order in today’.”

“Some customers still believe that voice services won’t be affected by the switch to the NBN so we are encouraging community members to check in on loved ones and elderly neighbours to make sure they are fully prepared for the impending disconnection of copper services.”

More than 32,000 homes and businesses surrounding Ballarat are eligible to make the switch, with residents in Ballarat central, north and east alongside Brown Hill and Mount Pleasant now eligible to connect to the NBN.

About 2200 more services are scheduled to switch on in Mount Helen and Buninyong late in February.

“We also believe many of the remaining premises yet to make the switch are local businesses,” Mr Mundy said.

“Transferring services onto the NBN can take some time and co ordination and we are well aware how important a working phone, data and internet connection is to businesses.

“So we’re strongly urging remaining businesses to act today.”

Construction on NBN infrastructure is also set to begin in Clunes, Hepburn and Daylesford later this year.