CSIRO seeks fibre optic provider for WA telescope

The CSIRO has published a request for tender for the construction and installation of more than 350 kilometres of fibre optic cable in Western Australia.

Applications are invited from "organisations of substance" that can connect the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO) with the nearby city of Geraldton.

The MRO is a 126 square kilometre observatory that was built in remote WA to minimise radio frequency interference.

It is home to a range of astronomy projects including the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), which is a next-generation radio telescope that comprises 36 antennas, each 12 metres in diameter.

The cable will provide MRO scientists with high-speed connectivity to CSIRO and international research partners.

Tender documentation will be available from the Australian National Research and Education Network (AARNet) from Monday 15 February 2010. The project is expected to commence in May.