Conroy backs down on NBN RFP deadline

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 22 May 2008 06:29

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

Australia's Communications minister Stephen Conroy has caved in to pressure from would be bidders for the National Broadband Network saying the July 25 deadline will be extended to a date 12 weeks beyond that on which all required network information becomes available.
The open-ended decision has the potential to significantly delay the overall project and the Government's aim to award the contract by October 2008. The holder of almost all the vital network information is Telstra and its main competitor for the contract, TERRiA, the recently renamed G9 ,  has already claimed that Telstra is not being co-operative: that the comprehensive information it claims to have given to the government is woefully inadequate.

Conroy confirmed that the information from Telstra was insufficient, but did not suggest that Telstra was being deliberately unco-operative, saying: "Telstra has provided some network information however despite its best efforts some information is not yet available."

Meanwhile, legislation that would give the government power to demand information has yet to pas through parliament and even when it does pass, it sets out a complex regime under which bidders must go through a government intermediary to gain access to network information they claim to be necessary but which as not already been provided. This is likely to further delay access to all the information needed.

Announcing the move, Conroy said: "In February, I wrote to carriers seeking the voluntary disclosure of network information. All carriers either have or are working towards providing this information in a timely manner and I welcome this cooperative approach."

He added: "The provision of network information is vital to allow potential proponents to build the network to compete on an equal basis. The National Broadband Network represents this nation's single largest investment in broadband infrastructure. It is important that interested parties have adequate time to make use of information about existing infrastructure. For this reason the Government will ensure potential proponents will have 12 weeks
to consider network information before being required to lodge their proposals. The Government will amend the request for proposals to reflect this timetable."