Wireless a focus as NBN Co ramps jobs

Renai LeMay
Friday, 10 September 2010 16:00

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

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The National Broadband Network Company this week advertised several dozen new jobs as it dramatically ramped up hiring in the wake of political certainty over its future, including several wireless roles that will play a key role in its rollout of next-generation wireless infrastructure around the nation.

The news came as this week Pipe Networks managing director Bevan Slattery and long-time NBN critic Bevan Slattery said the fledgling broadband startup would now need to place a big emphasis on the wireless component of the network’s construction due to Labor’s deal with several independents for the NBN to be rolled out in regional areas first.

The wireless positions advertised this week include a project director position for the wireless rollout reporting directly to NBN Co chief technology officer Gary McLaren and a radio planning manager reporting to the company’s general manager of Network Design and Planning.

The radio planning manager’s responsibilities will include working with the Australian Communications and Media Authority to obtain the required spectrum licences for the wireless rollout, as well as maintaining those spectrum licences.

The successful executive will need to have in-depth knowledge of equipment suporting both the LTE (long term evolution) and WiMAX wireless standards, as well as the ability to work directly with telecommunications vendors.