National Broadband Network: Difference between revisions
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On 7 April 2009, the Australian Government announced that the RFP had been terminated and that the Australian Government would instead construct a [[Australian dollar|A$]]43 billion FTTH network to supply 90% of the population with speeds of 100[[Data rate units#Megabit per second|Megabits per second]] the remainder being served by next generation wireless and satellite technologies with speeds of 12 [[Data rate units#Megabit per second|Megabits per second]]. The Tasmanian Government bid was successful, and construction is expected to begin in July 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last=Taylor |last=Rob |title=Australia to build broadband network |work=[[Reuters]] |date=2009-04-07 |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSTRE5356YN20090406 |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> Although the RFP was terminated, companies such as Telstra can still purchase infrastructure bonds in the new company. |
On 7 April 2009, the Australian Government announced that the RFP (Request for Proposals) had been terminated and that the Australian Government would instead construct a [[Australian dollar|A$]]43 billion FTTH network to supply 90% of the population with speeds of 100[[Data rate units#Megabit per second|Megabits per second]] the remainder being served by next generation wireless and satellite technologies with speeds of 12 [[Data rate units#Megabit per second|Megabits per second]]. The Tasmanian Government bid was successful, and construction is expected to begin in July 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last=Taylor |last=Rob |title=Australia to build broadband network |work=[[Reuters]] |date=2009-04-07 |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSTRE5356YN20090406 |accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> Although the RFP was terminated, companies such as Telstra can still purchase infrastructure bonds in the new company. |
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==Excluded or removed bids== |
==Excluded or removed bids== |
Revision as of 01:39, 27 May 2009
Template:Future infrastructure The National Broadband Network is a Fibre to the Home (FTTH) network set to be built in Australia. The Australian Government is to build and operate an Open Access Network providing download speeds of up to 100 Megabits per second to 90% of Australian homes and businesses, for which it is offering to contribute an initial cash injection of A$43 billion. The remaining homes and businesses will be supplied using wireless and satellite technologies. The network will be built as a public private partnership.[1] It will be the largest single infrastructure investment in Australia's history.[2] The construction of the network will begin in the state of Tasmania by July 2009, subject to legislature approval.[3]
Projected characteristics
The National Broadband Network will be built with the following characteristics:
- Download speeds of up to 100 Megabits per second for 90% of Australia homes and businesses
- The remainder of Australian homes and businesses will be serviced by a combination of next generation wireless and satellite technologies with a minimum speed of 12 Megabits per second
- Network to be operational progressively over eight years as a public-private partnership
- Be able to provide high quality voice, data and video services including symmetric services such as high definition video-conferencing
- The Network is expected to cost A$43 billion with the government issuing infrastructure bonds to allow private investment in the network, this will be capped at 49%
- Network to be an Open Access Network
- Have a uniform pricing structure, regardless of customer location
- The Australian Government will hold a 51% share and will operate the network for five years once completed before selling down their stake.
- It will require the creation of 47,000 new jobs over the next eight years and will support 25,000 jobs every year until completed[4]
Bidders
The following organisations placed bids before the deadline on 26 November 2008:
Coverage | Details | |
---|---|---|
Acacia | National | Proposes 100% population coverage.[5] |
Axia NetMedia | National[6] | Proposes use of FTTP in metro areas and FTTN in regional areas.[7][8] |
Telstra | National[9][10] | Submitted a proposal but withheld a fully detailed bid and proposed 80% to 90% population coverage.[9][11][12] |
Terria/Optus | National[13] | Optus Networks Investments submitted a national bid on behalf of Terria,[14] proposing use of FTTN.[8] |
Tasmanian Government | Tasmania[15] | Proposes FTTH and wireless services to others not covered by FTTH |
TransACT | ACT[16] | |
Australian Government | Australia[17] | Proposes a 90% FTTH network with speeds of 100 Mbit/s the remaining areas will be covered with a combination of wireless and satellite technologies. |
On 7 April 2009, the Australian Government announced that the RFP (Request for Proposals) had been terminated and that the Australian Government would instead construct a A$43 billion FTTH network to supply 90% of the population with speeds of 100Megabits per second the remainder being served by next generation wireless and satellite technologies with speeds of 12 Megabits per second. The Tasmanian Government bid was successful, and construction is expected to begin in July 2009.[18] Although the RFP was terminated, companies such as Telstra can still purchase infrastructure bonds in the new company.
Excluded or removed bids
The following bids have been removed or excluded from the bidding process.
Date of removal/exclusion | Reason | |
---|---|---|
Telstra | 2008-12-15 | Proposal was rejected by Federal Government on 15 December 2008.[19] |
Acacia | 2009-04-07 | Was removed by the Government on 7 April 2009 because it did not satisfy the RFP |
Axia NetMedia | 2009-04-07 | Was removed by the Government on 7 April 2009 because it did not satisfy the RFP |
Terria/Optus | 2009-04-07 | Was removed by the Government on 7 April 2009 because it did not satisfy the RFP |
TransACT | 2009-04-07 | Was removed by the Government on 7 April 2009 because it did not satisfy the RFP |
History
The NBN was proposed during 2007 as an election promise by then opposition leader Kevin Rudd.[20] The proposal both competed with and was to run alongside the then government's 'Broadband Connect' project, which was awarded to OPEL Networks in the lead up to the election, but was cancelled in April 2008.
Following Kevin Rudd and the Australian Labor Party wining the 2007 Australian Federal Election, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued, with proposals submitted by Telstra, Terria, Canadian based Axia NetMedia, Acacia,[21] as well as an individual state bid by the Tasmanian Government and a Canberra based bid lodged by TransACT.[22]
Following the release of network information by incumbent carriers, a closing date of 26 November 2008 was set for the RFP.[23]
The incumbent carrier, Telstra, was removed from the process on 15 December 2008. According to a spokesman for the Communications Minister Stephen Conroy "The expert panel has determined that Telstra’s submission to the national broadband network is not compliant. They are out of the process for the moment."[24]
On 7 April 2009, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy announced that the NBN would be built by the Australian Government as none of the private proposals have been "value for money."[25] The Tasmanian Government was the only successful bidder, and the NBN in Tasmania has been fast-tracked to begin construction in July[26].
Criticism
In November 2008, potential tenderers iiNet and Telstra criticised the government for a lack of certainty over the regulation of the new network.[27] Corporate competition issues threatened the tender process, with Telstra insisting on assurances that the government will not force Telstra to separate the NBN from its retail operations in the future.[28] Following the failure of the RFP in 2009, both companies showed support for the Government's plan to build the network itself, with iiNet managing director Michael Malone stating that this was "like Christmas for Australian broadband consumers!"[29][30]
Continued speculation has dogged the National Broadband Network tender process, despite this the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy has stood firmly behind the 2007 election commitment.[31]
The opposition party leader Malcolm Turnbull sees the NBN as a return to the Gough Whitlam era, citing the former Prime Minister's penchant for wildly unrealistic nation building projects.[32][33]
References
- ^ Rob (2009-04-07). "Australia to build broadband network". Reuters. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ Egan, Michael (2008-09-05). "A separate company for a broadband network". The Age. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|coauthors=
ignored (|author=
suggested) (help) - ^ http://bigpondnews.com/articles/Technology/2009/04/08/Tasmania_to_get_govt_broadband_first_319955.html BigPond News - Tasmania
- ^ "New National Broadband Network" (Press release). Joint Press Release: Prime Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for Broadband. 2009-04-07. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ Foo, Fran (2008-11-26). "Acacia confirms national NBN bid". The Australian. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
- ^ "Axia Submits Australian NBN bid" (PDF) (Press release). Axia NetMedia. 2008-11-25. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
- ^ "Canadian plan for national broadband network is 'faster, cheaper'". The Australian. 2008-12-11. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
- ^ a b "Axia shows its NBN hand". Australian IT. 2008-12-11. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
- ^ a b "Telstra submits NBN proposal" (Press release). Telstra. 2008-11-26. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
- ^ McGauchie, Donald (2008-11-26). "National Broadband Network - Telstra Proposal" (PDF). Telstra. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
- ^ "Telstra broadband bid is valid:Conroy". ABC News. 2008-11-26. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
- ^ Bingemann, Mitchell (2008-11-26). "Telstra 'bid' a joke: Optus". The Australian. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
- ^ "Optus launches NBN bid backed by TERRiA" (Press release). Optus. 2008-11-26. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
- ^ "Terria NBN bid morphs into Optus bid". iTWire. 2008-11-26. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
- ^ "Tasmania's National Broadband Network bid lodged" (Press release). David Bartlett, Premier of Tasmania. 2008-11-26. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
- ^ "TransACT's National Broadband Network proposal to deliver a world-class solution for the ACT" (Press release). TransACT. 2008-11-26. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
- ^ "TransACT's National Broadband Network proposal to deliver a world-class solution for the ACT" (Press release). News.com.au. 2009-04-07. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ Rob (2009-04-07). "Australia to build broadband network". Reuters. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ "http://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20081215/pdf/31f5s2sd5t98tp.pdf" (PDF). ASX. 2008-12-15. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
{{cite news}}
: External link in
(help)|title=
- ^ "Building Australia's Prosperity - Federal Labor's New National Broadband Network" (Press release). Australian Labor Party. 2007-03-21. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
- ^ Tindal, Suzanne (2008-10-01). "Acacia up for national NBN bid". ZDNet Australia. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ O'Sullivan, Matt (2008-08-08). "National $10b-plus network a step closer". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
- ^ "Date set for National Broadband Network proposals" (Press release). Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. 2008-09-03. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
- ^ "Telstra's NBN bid rejected". www.news.com.au. 2008-12-15. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- ^ "National Broadband Network: 21st century broadband" (Press release). Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. 2009-04-07. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ "Tasmania first to receive superfast broadband" (Press release). 2009-04-08. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
- ^ Tindal, Suzanne (2008-11-07). ZDNet Australia http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/NBN-doomed-to-failure-iiNet/0,130061791,339293092,00.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
{{cite news}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help); Text "title NBN doomed to failure: iiNet" ignored (help) - ^ Hewett, Jennifer (2008-11-08). "Tough Sol Trujillo has few regrets on Telstra". The Australian. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
- ^ Warne, Dan (2009-04-07). "Internode "gobsmacked", iiNet welcomes FTTH network". APC. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ "Telstra welcomes opportunity to engage Govt on broadband". Now We Are Talking. 2009-04-07. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ Salna, Karlis (2009-03-31). "Govt will deliver broadband plan: Conroy". The Age. Retrieved 2009-03-31.
- ^ "Back to the future with Government telco ownership". The Australian. 2009-04-08. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
- ^ "Do not swallow broadband line - Turnbull warns". Sydney Morning Herald. 2009-04-09. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
External links
- Scope of proposed NBN regulation, business structure and possible telecommunications legislation reform.