Visionstream to build NBN wireless network

Leighton subsidiary Visionstream has picked up its second large government deal in as many weeks, winning a contract to construct the fixed wireless component of the National Broadband Network.

Under the subcontract with Ericsson, Visionstream will acquire sites for the mobile base stations required to stand up the fixed wireless network in all states and territories, as well as constructing, integrating and optimising the network for the Swedish networking giant.

It comes just a week after Visionstream signed a separate contract with NBN Co to build the national transit network and in the same week the company completed the Federal Government's 6000-kilometre blackspot backbone program with sister company Nextgen networks.

The TD-LTE wireless network, to be built by 2015, will ultimately serve four percent or approximately 400,000 premises with 12 Mbps downstream speeds.

An NBN Co spokeswoman said the network wholesaler was aware of the contracts but "details of the arrangement are between Ericsson and Visionstream".

Neither Visionstream or Ericsson would reveal the value of the subcontract, claiming confidentiality, but it is believed it could be worth in excess of $100 million to Visionstream over four years.

Ericsson's $1.1 billion contract with NBN Co, signed in July, contracts the Swedish company to maintain and operate the network for a decade.

Construction is expected to begin from the middle of next year, with up to 20,000 premises receiving fixed wireless services in the outer regions of Geraldton, Toowoomba, Tamworth, Ballarat and Darwin.

The first five sites will require 120 new or upgraded base stations to service them.

Collectively, Leighton subsidiaries and joint ventures have collected contracts worth up to $1.5 billion from the NBN and related government tenders, including constructing fibre-to-the-premises, fibre backhaul, transit and fixed wireless networks.