NBN Tasmania announces fibre contract

NBN Tasmania today announced Corning Cable Systems Pty Ltd will provide fibre optic cable for the construction of Tasmania’s backhaul network in the first tender issued under the Australian Government’s National Broadband Network (NBN) project.

Linked gallery: Corning's fibre optic manufacturing plant

Corning Cable Systems is the local subsidiary of NYSE-listed Corning Incorporated, a US$6 billion a year glass and ceramics industrial powerhouse.

According to the Tasmanian Government, Corning Cable Systems Pty Ltd will supply 292 km of optic fibre cable for the construction of the Tasmanian NBN backhaul network.

“Today’s announcement again shows NBN Tasmania and Aurora Energy are able to mobilise resources quickly to ensure the roll-out of what will be a landmark development for Tasmania and Australia as a whole,” said Mr Doug Campbell, the executive chairman of NBN Tasmania.

“By connecting Tasmanian communities via fibre optic cable we are creating a piece of infrastructure that will greatly benefit these communities,” Mr Campbell said.

Initial deliveries of cable are scheduled for October/November 2009 and will form the first stage of the NBN Tasmania fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network to be rolled out to approximately 5,000 homes in the Smithton, Scottsdale and Midway Point communities.

Rainer Dittrich, managing director of Corning Cable Pty Ltd said the company recently completed the installation of optical fibre manufacturing equipment in its plant in Clayton, Victoria, the "first sizeable run" of which will be optical fibre for the Tasmanian NBN.