Australia's NBN has awarded construction contracts with a total value of approximately AUS$1.1 billion to extend fibre deeper into communities and advance the capability, reach and value of the nbn network for Australian homes and businesses.
The contracts form part of the company’s AUS$2.9 billion investment to upgrade large parts of the Fibre to the Node (FTTN) network to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP), on demand. The four contracts of various sizes were awarded to Downer Group, Fulton Hogan Utilities, Lendlease Services and Ventia (through its Visionstream subsidiary) following a competitive tender process.
The combined portfolio of contracts cover design and construction to support NBN Co’s network investment plan to make its highest wholesale speed plans available, on demand, to up to 75 per cent of households and businesses on the fixed line network by 2023.
It is expected these new contracts will create up to 10,000 jobs during the peak design and construction period of the network investment plan. A range of roles in the design and construction industry are expected to be required, including telecommunication technicians, fibre haulers and splicers, civil construction workers, engineers, designers, safety inspectors, project managers and more.
To date, more than 1.1 million homes and businesses currently served by NBN Co’s FTTN technology have been identified as part of the company’s network evolution plan, and up to two million will become eligible for the upgrade to FTTP, on demand, by 2023.
The new contracts will cover design and construction activity for the balance of the 1.8 million additional premises to be made eligible for upgrades from FTTN to FTTP by 2023.
Kathrine Dyer, Chief Operations Officer at NBN
We are very pleased to work with these delivery partners to continue to evolve the nbn network and ensure more Australian homes and businesses can access the broadband services they need to remain productive while working and studying from home, and also to enjoy all of the entertainment and social benefits that high-speed broadband delivers.
