QCN

We’re QCN. We’re proudly connecting Queenslanders. We’re about pipes, meat pies and cable ties. And we’re bringing world-class telecommunications into regional Queensland. Under the CopperString 2032 early works project we’re building fibre into, and throughout, Cloncurry, Julia Creek, Richmond and Hughenden. And we need “pipes”. Based in Hughendon, Viper Water Solutions manufactures & supplies high-quality polyethylene pipe, fittings, troughs, water tanks, and anything water-related for farms, cattle stations, mines, irrigation and water supply development projects. And now Viper are “into telco”, supplying the conduit that carries our fibre, that brings digital connectivity to Queenslanders. Pictured: Urban Civil & Hire's Jason Pizzolato (in high vis) and Viper General Manager, Wesley Smith. Dantel Communications #ConnectingQueensland #BreakingtheDigitalDivide

The QCN team will be attending AusNog this year! To find out more about our exciting new projects and meet our team, please reach out to Paul Brownsdon or Jason Horan. See you there! #ConnectingQueensland

CopperString 2032 Putting North Queensland firmly back on the map #ConnectingQueensland

We’re not just about delivering world-class telecommunications into regional Queensland.   We’re about pipes, meat pies and cable ties.   Our investment is not just fibre in the ground. We’re spending money in the local community. We’re spending on pipes, meat pies and cable ties. And steaks. And fuel. And accommodation.   Pictured: Our Dantel Communications fibre delivery team (Pete, Brent, Jack and Jason) getting their smiles and supplies from Leah and Stephen, owners of Julia Creek Foodmart. #ConnectingQueensland

This is a great success story and a reflection of the foresight of the Queensland Government and Sunshine Coast Council's investment in the region. QCN is also a reflection of the foresight of the Queensland Government, we provide the "big infrastructure" that supports NEXTDC in the Sunny Coast and in Brisbane. We're proud to boast that we were the Maroochydore Landing Station's anchor backhaul provider and continue to provide high capacity, protected and diverse paths into SC1. And our fibre footprint enables us to connect the same "big infrastructure" to other regional data centres such as Pulse Data Centre (Toowoomba), Polaris Data Centre and NQRDC in Townsville. #ConnectingQueensland iseek

Hughenden businesses predict high-speed digital connectivity will be a “game-changer” ___ Metropolitan grade internet is a step closer for Hughenden after construction of the CopperString 2032 project’s first workforce accommodation and facilities offially kicked off with a sod turning earlier this month.     The President of the Hughenden Chamber of Commerce, Les Carter, says improved digital connectivity delivered as part of the CopperString project will propel the regional town forward.   The owner of Carter Concrete and Sheds has been in business for over 30 years and says digital communication has always been a challenge, including within Hughenden’s new industrial estate.    “With the industrial estate what’s happening, I’ve got a couple of businesses up there of my own, I can’t get cameras up there for security because we’ve got no service there and it’s very poor,” he said.    “We’ve got a business up there at the moment, he’s actually got to operate from home to do his accounts, he can’t do it from his business because the internet is too poor.”   The Powerlink Queensland-led CopperString 2032 project will connect high voltage powerlines from the East Coast Electricity Grid and the North West Minerals Province.   Part of the $5 billion electricity transmission project is for Powerlink subsidiary QCN to deliver high-speed digital connectivity to communities along the corridor between Mulgrave, south of Townsville, and Mount Isa.    QCN has unique access to an existing optic-fibre cable running along the Flinders Highway which will provide high-speed wholesale backhaul (backbone network) to Internet Service Providers (ISPs).    ISPs can then offer their customers metropolitan-grade upload and download speeds.     Les Carter says it will make Hughenden more attractive for business.      “It’ll be fantastic, especially for new businesses coming into town,” he said.    “If Powerlink, and we’re talking about the fibre-optic coming through, that will be a game-changer for all of us.” #ConnectingQueensland #BreakingtheDigitalDivide #Telecommunications

Our mandate is to break the digital divide in Queensland. CopperString 2032 is a big part of our goal to enable metro-grade services, at metro prices, to those living in the North West Minerals Province. #ConnectingQueensland #BreakingtheDigitalDivide #Telecommunications

Hughenden business anticipates CopperString connectivity will boost efficiency and reduce bottom line ___ Aaron Zammit is one of many business owners in Hughenden who’s excited that work has commenced on the $5 billion CopperString 2032 project.    Last week’s official sod-turning for the first workforce accommodation camp in Hughenden signalled construction had begun and improved digital connectivity for the town was now a step closer.   Mr Zammit didn’t realise how poor the telephone and internet connectivity was in Hughenden until he moved from Townsville and bought a freight business in 2021. “It was an issue from the word go,” he said. The owner of Hughenden Freight and Industrial was forced to upgrade to an expensive satellite service which he says is not ideal. "It turned out to be just another hurdle that regional businesses have to have just to stay semi-connected,” he said. “There’s not a consistent reliable service at the moment, we really need one,”  As part of the Powerlink Queensland-led CopperString 2032 project, QCN will deliver vital digital connectivity along the Flinders Highway to supply high-speed internet capacity to workforce accommodation camps, hospitals, schools and councils. QCN will also supply ultra-high speed and high-capacity wholesale backhaul (backbone network) to Internet Service Providers who can offer their customers metropolitan-grade upload and download speeds. “It will allow us to utilise our technology consistently and not have to worry about dropouts, not have to worry about technology,” said Aaron Zammit. “It’s the last thing you want to think about when you’ve got a million other things running along in your business.”  Hughenden will host the first CopperString accommodation camp for workers constructing high-voltage powerlines from Mulgrave, south of Townsville, to Mount Isa.     The $5 billion CopperString project will connect the North West Minerals Province with the East Coast Electricity Grid, further unlocking the renewable energy potential of Queensland. #ConnectingQueensland #BreakingtheDigitalDivide #Telecommunications

Flinders Shire Council Mayor, Kate Peddle, welcomes CopperString construction kicking off in Hughenden Now that construction has begun on the first of Powerlink Queensland’s workforce accommodation facilities in Hughenden, local Mayor Kate Peddle says community benefits, including improved digital connectivity, should eventually extend beyond the town.    The accommodation is being constructed on the outskirts of Hughenden and will be able to house more than 450 people when fully operational in 2025.   A key component of the CopperString project is for Powerlink subsidiary, Queensland Capacity Network (QCN), to deliver high-speed internet capacity to the camp, hospital, school and council infrastructure.     QCN will also supply high-capacity wholesale backhaul (backbone network) to Internet Service Providers who can offer their customers metropolitan-grade upload and download speeds.     Mayor Peddle says improved digital connectivity will undoubtedly benefit Hughenden, but she also wants to see the project’s long-term plan, to reduce the number of mobile telephone black spots along the Flinders Highway, realised.    “We have fair distances that we travel in comparison to others so being able to access Emergency Services on the rare occasions that we need it is a struggle,” she said.    “We are required to travel for basic health services, education, boarding schools.     “That requires us to have a level of connectivity and not be challenged by the black spots along our highways.”     QCN's mandate is to break the digital divide in regional and remote areas by delivering improved telecommunications coverage, capacity, and competition    QCN also works with telcos to address mobile black spots across the SuperGrid footprint, which includes the CopperString corridor. #ConnectingQueensland #BreakingtheDigitalDivide #Telecommunications

Charters Towers Regional Council Mayor Liz Schmidt says CopperString 2032 will put north Queensland on the map.  “We need prosperity, we need resilience, we need to have our community understand that we are worth something and certainly all of the western run is worth something to Queensland and Australia.”  The Mayor made the comments during a recent briefing by the QCN CopperString team which is delivering improved digital connectivity in the towns and communities along the project corridor.     “We have quite a significant number of women who work from home, they’re cottage industries where they’ll make t-shirts and go to markets, there’s quite a bit of that in town,” she said.   “The ability to have that good connectivity from a sales perspective for them and internet connectivity, that allows them to do that and on-sell their goods.”    The Powerlink-led CopperString project will erect high voltage powerlines from south of Townsville to Mount Isa, connecting the East Coast Electricity Grid to the North West Minerals Province. #ConnectingQueensland #BreakingTheDigitalDivide #Telecommunications