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Telecommunications Government seeks $$ to help with broadband backhaul rollout
Telecommunications Government seeks $$ to help with broadband backhaul rollout | Government seeks $$ to help with broadband backhaul rollout |
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| by Stuart Corner | |
| Wednesday, 01 July 2009 | |
  
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The RFT states that a minimum of 24 fibres will be required in each location, except Geraldton where the number will be 48. The Government is also open to alternative technologies, such as microwave, for small elements, such as serving small communities off the main fibre backbone in the near term. The Government's preference is to own the cable and all associated physical assets, but the RFP flags the possibility of bidders who want fibre for their exclusive use installing additional fibre pairs which would be owned by the government and then made available to them via long term indefeasible rights of usage (IRUs). The communities to be served in each of these locations are not mandated. The RFP states that bidders may tender for any or all of: - South West Gippsland region: Wonthaggi, Leongatha, Korumburra, Inverloch, Foster and Yarram; - Victor Harbor: regional communities could include Hahndorf, Mount Barker, Strathalbyn, Goolwa, Mclaren Vale and Willunga; - Broken Hill: regional communities in other states may be addressed on proposed routes; - Darwin: regional communities could include Tennant Creek and Katherine, in addition to communities in other States of Australia; - to Emerald and on to Longreach: regional communities could include Barcaldine and Blackwater; - Geraldton: regional communities could include Dongara and Port Denison. Tenderers "could also give consideration to the proposed Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), which has data facilities at the Geraldton University Centre in Geraldton." Communications minister senator Stephen Conroy said: "Submissions from a wide range of stakeholders have helped the Government identify the first six priority locations for these initial backbone infrastructure investments. However, it should be clear that National Broadband Network backbone infrastructure investment will not be limited to these individual locations and routes. Subject to the outcome of the first round tender, more locations will be identified later in the year." Successful bidders will be required to manage, operate and maintain the infrastructure for at least five years and to commit to provide transmission services and associated access to facilities to third parties that are "technically suitable to enable retail service providers to deliver the full range of services to consumers in regional communities." They must offer access to the backbone transmission services on open and equivalent terms and conditions, will also have to commit to initial prices for third party access, and detail the methodology for adjusting prices. Vertically integrated operators will be required to demonstrate how they will achieve, maintain and report on, equivalence of inputs between their retail entity and other retail service providers.
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