NBN Co reveals second release start dates

NBN Co has revealed it will begin preliminary second-release site works at Armidale and Coffs Harbour this month, ahead of a wider fibre rollout to begin by November.

The fibre rollout would pass approximately 54,000 premises in nine sites with first services to become available a year later.

Construction would be staggered by prime contractor Silcar, with the north Brisbane suburb of Aspley likely the last of the NBN second-release sites to be started, from December this year.

The nine sites were likely to be joined over coming months by another ten sites in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and the Northern Territory.

However, the timeframe for rollout at those sites remained uncertain, with an NBN Co spokesman unable to affirm when negotiations would be finalised with five potential contractors.

NBN Co had initially planned to finalise the contracts for those contractors by the end of August.

Construction at the nine sites included extensions to the Kiama, Townsville and Armidale first release rollouts in addition to six new sites at Coffs Harbour, Toowoomba, Gungahlin and Riverstone.

Construction dates had been delayed by continuing negotiations regarding the $9 billion agreement between Telstra and NBN Co, which would provide the National Broadband Network wholesaler with interim access to the incumbent's infrastructure.

"The use of Telstra's infrastructure, where it is available, should reduce the amount of disruption for the community and provide a smoother and more efficient rollout," NBN Co chief Mike Quigley said in a statement.

At an industry briefing last week, NBN Co product development and sales manager Jim Hassell said NBN Co would release detailed rollout plans next month.

The dates for premlininary works at second release sites were:

Coffs Harbour (New South Wales) - August 2011
Armidale (New South Wales) - August 2011
Townsville (Queensland) - September 2011
Kiama and Jamberoo (New South Wales) - September 2011
Toowoomba (Queensland) - October 2011
Gungahlin (ACT) - October 2011
Riverstone (New South Wales) - November 2011
Goodna (Queensland) - November 2011
Aspley (Queensland) - December 2011