An NBN decision next week?

Stuart Corner
Friday, 06 March 2009 01:43

IT Industry - Market

If communications minster Stephen Conroy's is being upfront with his latest statements on the NBN there is a possibility that he could announce the government's decision next week.

According to The Australian he told the audience at the CeBit IT fair in Germany that he had intended to announce the NBN winner in time for the show, but the demands of the bushfire tragedy in Victoria had delayed crucial meetings around selecting a winner. "It is understood those meetings will now proceed and a winner will be announced in two to three weeks." The Australian said.

With Conroy having been overseas since the Victorian bushfire disaster those meetings may still have to be held, but Conroy will address the Australian Telecommunications Users Group's annual conference next week (Friday 13th) and ATUG executives are hopefully speculating that he could choose their venue to make the big announcement. "He likes ATUG" one director told iTWire. "It's a neutral venue, and there aren't many of those left these days. And we represent the users who the NBN is supposed to benefit."

Maybe, but there is increase speculation that the whole NBN process is heading for a 'reboot' in the face of insurmountable obstacles, and that the deepening global financial crisis has provided Conroy with just the excuse he needs...