Aus Net Servers Australia managing director Matthew Matters said he is willing to invest in a cellular tower in the area to provide locals with internet that would rival NBN’s planned fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) service.

Mr Matters said if a location is found for a tower, trialing and installations could start by March next year.

He said the point-to-point wireless network, which uses a line of sight connection between the company’s service tower and consumer antennas mounted to existing TV antennas, could guarantee download speeds of at least 25 megabytes per second (mbps), with plans to expand the service up to 100mbps from mid-2017.

“The concept is that we’d be delivering point-to-point wireless internet to residences and businesses,” he said.

“We don’t believe in new estates getting fibre (to-the-premises, FTTP)  while the old estates are forgotten about. This is the mentality of the NBN.

“Miners Rest will be the first trial site, then we’d move on to Wendouree, Sebastopol and all the places where the NBN has essentially been forgotten about (with regards to FTTP).”

NBN construction in Miners Rest and several other suburbs around Ballarat starts from the second half of 2017, however, it could take up to 12 months before the service would be activated.

FTTN has been criticized by industry experts, who believe the existing copper wiring used for the connection  will need to be replaced.

Mr Matters said around 60 clients are required to make the venture financially viable.

Local James Turner said the speeds on his current ADSL2 network are “dreadful”.

“It’s (an improved service) vital for the area moving forward and can potentially get the rest of the lagging Ballarat community up to speed,” he said.

Aus Net Servers will hold an information session for the public on December 13 at the Miners Rest Town Hall from 6pm to 7pm.