NBN Co tech report a 'cheap stunt', says Turnbull

NBN Co's call for a third-party report on policy and technology options that could impact the national network is little more than a "cheap stunt", according to shadow communications minister Malcolm Turnbull.

The network builder's chief Mike Quigley said on Friday he had asked the Communications Alliance to prepare a report "to bring commercial reality to the theoretical debate" that continues to run on fibre-to-the-premises versus fibre-to-the-node, the latter of which is favoured by the Opposition.

The Communications Alliance is unsure if it will take on the request, citing concerns that it might not produce anything "that could sit above the level of politics" involved.

Turnbull said the report "appear[ed] to be ... a cheap stunt to distract attention from NBN Co's appalling record in executing the rollout."

"This is the most bizarre twist yet in the debate over broadband policy," Turnbull said.

"Just months from an election, Mr Quigley suddenly wants a review — but a hazily conceived and nebulous review on his terms and timing."

NBN Co surpassed 10,000 active fibre connections in 2012 and is aiming to dramatically ramp up the network rollout in the months before the end of the financial year.

The Opposition is yet to formalise its policy for the NBN should it take power at this year's federal election.

The party has repeatedly declined to cost its proposals on the basis that it has no visibility on the forward contractual commitments that NBN Co has entered into.