Conroy details greenfield fibre plans

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 09 December 2010 16:13

IT Policy - Regulation

Communications minister, senator Stephen Conroy, has released details of the rules that will govern the provision of fibre infrastructure in new developments from 1 January 2011.

Conroy said: "From 1 January 2011, NBN Co will be responsible for the installation of fibre in all broadacre developments, all infill developments where it has fibre that is ready for service and capable of connection, and newly approved infill developments of 100 or more premises."

NBN Co will be responsible for the installation of fibre infrastructure in the development, including backhaul to a point of interconnect.

Conroy added: "While the National Broadband Network is being constructed, an estimated 1.9 million new premises will be built. Connecting these premises to fibre as they are built will provide occupants with ready access to next generation broadband and reduce rollout costs by avoiding costly retrofitting later."

NBN Co will be free to use whatever operational arrangements it chooses to service new developments, including sub-contracting and build-operate-transfer arrangements. It will establish a panel of appropriately qualified and experienced providers who can bid to install fibre on its behalf.

For infill developments of less than 100 premises, Telstra will continue to be responsible for delivering infrastructure and services. Telstra will largely be using copper infrastructure to provide interim solutions in these developments, pending NBN Co rolling out its network.

Telstra will also be the retail provider of last resort: it will be required to provide standard telephone services to end users in all new developments in which retail services are not offered by another service provider.

Conroy added: "These arrangements are not exclusive. Nothing prevents a developer from requesting any provider (whether it be NBN Co, Telstra or some other provider) to service their estate.

"Any provider is free to comply with such a request, but is not required to do so. Only NBN Co and Telstra as providers of last resort must comply with requests in their respective areas of responsibility."

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