Telstra has won a contract from NBN Co, the Australian company rolling out the National Broadband Network. Telstra will power the government’s pilot of fibre-to-the-node technology in regional areas across Queensland and NSW. Under the terms of the deal, Telstra will build around 1,000 nodes across the two states over the next years to serve around 200,000 homes and businesses. The trial will target underserved areas, namely Belmont, Bolaro, Gorokan, Hamilton, Morriset, Umina and Warner in New South Wales; and Bribie Island, Bundaberg, Caboolture and Gympie in Queensland. The contract is worth around AUD 150 million, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Telstra will be in charge of planning, designing and building the fibre-to-the-node network. NBN Co will simultaneously work with retail service providers to finalise FTTN products. The trial forms part of the Coalition’s attempts to move the NBN from a predominantly fibre-based network to its multi-technology mix.
