Rural blackspots to get priority in NBN roll-out
- 02 July, 2009 08:44
- Comments 1
The Federal Government is to spend up to $250 million on new backbone transmission links to a number of Internet regional centres, including Broken Hill, Darwin and Geraldton, as part of its Regional Backbone Blackspots Program.
The links, due to be under construction by September, will connect to, and help facilitate, the government’s national broadband network (NBN) in regional and remote areas, according to request for tender documents.
The roll out of the links is expected to additionally deliver an economic stimulus, supporting jobs and providing a boost to the economy, and better service outcomes for consumers in regional communities.
“In regional areas where there is a lack of competitive backbone services there is little pressure on a wholesale supplier to offer low prices and higher quality services,” the document said.
“This can mean that Internet service providers and other service providers have limited scope to make new and/or higher quality services available to consumers in those areas at prices that are competitive, when compared to similar locations that have alternative backbone supply options.”
According to the tender document, the government expects to install a minimum of 24 optical fibres per location with the exception of Geraldton, which will require a minimum of 48.
The government is also considering the use of alternate technologies, such as microwave, to serve small communities off the main fibre backbone.
The document said the government’s preferred model for the rollout was to have the Commonwealth own the fibre and other passive/physical network elements, which may be transferred to the NBN’s operating company (NBNCo).
It will, however, leave the management, operation and maintenance of the infrastructure up to suppliers for at least five years following completion of the construction.
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Comments
Bobg
But will it start
I wonder if this "Nation Building" project will ever get off the ground or is it just a vote buying exercise. The Gov has had plenty of time to get the right advisors involved but still there are more requests for information. Mr Conroy, the unemployment continues to rise and you say this will ease the problem by creating ten's of thousands of jobs, how many have you created already ?.
There are many people in this industry "waiting" for this to start, some if not alot will be broke and sick of waiting for this to happen, then what will you do for experienced people then?, get it happening now if you really want to "Build the Nation" and help out the main stream.
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