The Australian communications ministry has released the Request for Proposals (RFP) to roll out and operate the National Broadband Network. The Australian Government has committed up to AUD 4.7 billion and is also considering regulatory changes to enable the roll-out. The government is further seeking submissions on policy and funding initiatives to provide broadband to rural and remote areas, the two percent of Australia that will not be covered by the National Broadband Network. Submissions for regulations surrounding the National Broadband Network are due by 25 June while proposals for the network itself are due a month later.
The call for proposals follows an announcement earlier this month that the government scrapped a network contract with the Optus and Elders joint venture Opel. The previous Australian government executed a AUD 958 million funding agreement with Opel Networks for the provision of a broadband network covering under-served areas across regional Australia. The government terminated the contract claiming it would not cover 90 percent of identified underserved areas.
This National Broadband Network tender is expected to deliver minimum download speeds of 12 Mbps to 98 per cent of Australian homes and businesses and should be rolled out and made operational progressively over five years using fibre-to-the-node or fibre-to-the-premises technology. The proposal is further expected to earn the Commonwealth a return on its investment, facilitate competition in the telecommunications sector through open access arrangements and enable uniform and affordable retail prices to consumers, no matter where they live. Proposals can be submitted until 25 July.
