Australia's NBN Co has denied reports that it's falling short of its internal targets on rolling out the country's new broadband network. According to NBN Co documents obtained by Fairfax Media, the government-owned company's ramp up is failing to meet key internal targets when it comes to planning and designing the roll-out across Australia, with NSW, Western Australia and Victoria the biggest problem states.
This is partly due to the NBN's move to use FTTN technologies that rely on tens of thousands of node cabinets throughout Australia, all of which need dedicated electrical connections, the report said. Delays in obtaining the necessary power mean the network design plans cannot move forward. Of the 1.4 million homes and businesses expected to have their designs completed as of 12 February, only 47 percent of that figure - 662,665 - have actually reached that stage.
NBN declined to detail the design process, saying some 14 steps are involved. It noted that power access applications "don’t actually stop us from moving designs along the process and getting areas ready for construction".
According to the company, the more important target was the number of homes and businesses 'ready for service', which it has consistently met. The company said it was on track to meet or exceed its full-year targets of 2.6 million homes ready for service, approximately 1 million homes using the network, and more than AUD 300 million in revenue.
