Photos: Rolling out fibre in Australia's backbone blackspots

Feb 18, 2010 10:09 AM
Filed under Telco/ISP

Regional Backbone Blackspot Program kicks off.


See all pictures here »

Nextgen Networks has begun laying the first fibre optic backbone link for the National Broadband Network (NBN) in mainland Australia, offering Communications Minister Stephen Conroy a photo op at Mt Isa in remote Queensland.

The link forms part of the Darwin, Emerald and Longreach route that connects regional centres funded by the Government's $250m NBN Regional Backbone Blackspot Program.

Nextgen Networks will lay nearly 6,000km of new backbone links along five separate routes for the program under a deal announced in December.

Mt Isa is the midway point along the 3,835km route from Darwin to Toowomba, and the longest of the five regional backbone links to be constructed under the program.

Construction of the Darwin, Mt Isa, Emerald and Longreach link is expected to take around 18 months to complete.

"One of the biggest obstacles for fast broadband in Mt Isa has been the lack of competitive fibre optic backbone services," said Senator Stephen Conroy,Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, at the launch [see photos, top right].

"Once complete, this link will allow other broadband providers to enter the market and offer faster broadband speeds, cheaper prices and more choice for people and businesses across the region."

3 comments in this discussion

"Oh dear , I was totally wrong - I thought a monopoly was where there was only one option in a market as it was not economic for anyone else to compete. The entrenched monopolist therefore charges ..."

By Digger11

Tags

conroy, nbn, networking, fibre, optic, link, mt, isa, nextgen, networks, regional, backbone, blackspot, program

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Comments: 3

Digger11 Feb 18, 2010 11:04 AM	"One of the biggest obstacles for fast broadband in Mt Isa has been the lack of competitive fibre optic backbone services," Is this code for - Telstra is the only current monopoly provider ????? I can see why the Telstra share price has tanked and that some analysts have put in in the "don't touch with a barge pole" group of stocks.
Bob Feb 18, 2010 2:32 PM	You seem to be confused again Digger. Monopoly mean that no one else can do it, not no one else will do it (unless the government pays them). Hope they ring "Dial Before You Dig" first.
Digger11 Feb 18, 2010 4:04 PM	Oh dear , I was totally wrong - I thought a monopoly was where there was only one option in a market as it was not economic for anyone else to compete. The entrenched monopolist therefore charges obscene prices. If competition threatens to come along, then it drops the price straight away (thus crushing all potential competitors business plans). When you are handed a network from the Goct. it is easy to act like a monopolist as no-one is going to replicate 100% of your network (unless your name is NBN of course !!!). My company does a bit of work for Telstra, we have put them on shortened credit terms as it may come to a stage where they are no longer a going concern.... You "Dial before you dig comment" - was nearly very funny.