iTnews

Energy Australia explores network tie-up with NBN Co

By Ry Crozier , Nate Cochrane , Munir Kotadia on Mar 24, 2010 3:00PM
Energy Australia explores network tie-up with NBN Co

Two of Australia's biggest network providers collaborate on the last mile to the home.

Energy Australia was keen for the emergent $43 billion National Broadband Network Company to step up to become utilities' gateway to households and businesses, its managing director said.

George Maltabarow told delegates to the IQPC Smart Grids Forum that the NSW Government-owned power and gas company was in discussions with NBN Co to merge the "last-mile" interests of the two network providers.

"We both have a common interest in that we're looking to last-mile solutions," Maltabarow said.

"They're looking for last mile for termination from their fibre network and perhaps some entry to the household network; there conceptually are synergies there.

"We're exploring this idea of a gateway to the household and whether NBN can provide a gateway for power utilities, telecommunications companies and other service providers on an open-access basis is something we're exploring with them."

The utility's general manager for intelligent networks, Adrian Clark, believed it justified the case for a national smart meter rollout in Australia.

"I think that there's a real synergy for smart metering and the NBN to get together," Clark said.

"The NBN needs smart metering or needs the utility industry as much as the utility industry needs the NBN.

"There's a whole industry out there that needs to put an [optical network terminal gateway] at every single house in Australia. We need to put a smart meter at every single house in Australia. And we also need to justify our smart metering business case.

"I believe that there's cost savings in providing a smart metering rollout that addresses the NBN requirements. [This strategy also] helps put the smart metering business case beyond doubt into positive territory."

Clark said Energy Australia had held a "number of positive dialogues" with the senior NBN Co team.

But he was concerned about how receptive NBN Co was to combining forces.

"I am a little bit disappointed [that] the NBN is approaching a lot of us as utilities thinking access provider - we want access to your infrastructure," he said.

"They're not actually thinking about the synergies I've put forward [at parliamentary hearings into smart grid infrastructure]."

Clark believed NBN Co's view was partly driven by the its heavy workload: "We're just one requirement on their radar".

He called on the electricity industry to unite to raise the profile of smart metering with NBN Co.

"It's really having a common focal spear point for us as an industry into the NBN to them aware of our requirements," Clark said.

"That's the process of engagement moving forwardLet's face it - we're the best people to identify our requirements, not the broader industry.

We need to have a consistent voice rather than dealing with all 15 [electricity] distributors."

The forum continues today.

Got a news tip for our journalists? Share it with us anonymously here.
Tags:
amibroadbandenergy australianbn conetworkingsmart meterstrategytelco/isp

Partner Content

5 essential digital transformation ideas
Promoted Content 5 essential digital transformation ideas
"We're seeing some good policy put in place, but that's the exception"
Partner Content "We're seeing some good policy put in place, but that's the exception"
Avoiding CAPEX by making on-premise IT more cloud-like
Promoted Content Avoiding CAPEX by making on-premise IT more cloud-like
Security "mindset shift" needed to protect organisations
Promoted Content Security "mindset shift" needed to protect organisations

Sponsored Whitepapers

Planning before the breach: You can’t protect what you can’t see
Planning before the breach: You can’t protect what you can’t see
Beyond FTP: Securing and Managing File Transfers
Beyond FTP: Securing and Managing File Transfers
NextGen Security Operations: A Roadmap for the Future
NextGen Security Operations: A Roadmap for the Future
Video: Watch Juniper talk about its Aston Martin partnership
Video: Watch Juniper talk about its Aston Martin partnership
Don’t pay the ransom: A three-step guide to ransomware protection
Don’t pay the ransom: A three-step guide to ransomware protection

Events

  • iTnews Benchmark Awards 2022 - Finalist Showcase
  • IoT Impact Conference
  • Cyber Security for Government Summit
By Ry Crozier
Nate Cochrane
Munir Kotadia
Mar 24 2010
3:00PM
0 Comments

Related Articles

  • NBN Co's basic broadband price could double by 2040
  • Don't miss Australia’s premiere IoT Conference on 9th June
  • What to expect from the incoming Labor government
  • NBN Co's 250Mbps and gigabit growth is finally clear
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Whatsapp Email A Friend

Most Read Articles

NBN Co sizes up six-figure customer exodus a year to fixed wireless

NBN Co sizes up six-figure customer exodus a year to fixed wireless

NBN Co to cut 160 applications under $200m IT simplification

NBN Co to cut 160 applications under $200m IT simplification

NBN Co's 250Mbps and gigabit growth is finally clear

NBN Co's 250Mbps and gigabit growth is finally clear

What to expect from the incoming Labor government

What to expect from the incoming Labor government

Digital Nation

COVER STORY: A Year in the Metaverse
COVER STORY: A Year in the Metaverse
CTO Juergen Mueller offers a glimpse into SAP's metaverse play
CTO Juergen Mueller offers a glimpse into SAP's metaverse play
COVER STORY: Data and IoT set digital agriculture on a sustainable future
COVER STORY: Data and IoT set digital agriculture on a sustainable future
Why do DeFi and DAOs matter to business?
Why do DeFi and DAOs matter to business?
Lendlease launches its own metaverse in Milan
Lendlease launches its own metaverse in Milan
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form without prior authorisation.
Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of nextmedia's Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.