Broadband

Mr Fletcherasked the Minister representing the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, in writing, on 11 October 2011:

In respect of the first report on the National Broadband Network (NBN) rollout (Shareholder Ministers, Government report to Joint Committee on the National Broadband Network on NBN Co Ltd and its subsidiaries as at 30 June 2011, 23 September 2011):

(a) what are the findings of the post implementation review following the practical completion of the NBN's five mainland First Release Sites,

(b) over the next two years, how many premises in Queensland, NSW and the ACT will be passed by the portion of the network to be built by Silcar Pty Limited,

(c) what is the average time period between a developer making an application to NBN Co. Limited, and a contract being signed by both parties,

(d) under how many of the 403 developer contracts is construction expected to be completed in

(i) 2011-12,

(ii) 2012-13, and

(iii) 2013-14, and

(e) what sum is Fujitsu being paid per premises for construction of the Greenfields networks, and

(f) what is meant by '...the transfer of bow wave applications back to Telstra...' (page 11), and under what circumstances might it occur.

 

Mr Albanese: The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

(a) NBN Co is still undertaking its post implementation review to examine the quality of the outcomes in first release sites and to ensure that the lessons have been documented, communicated and applied in subsequent projects.

(b) On 1 June 2011, NBN Co announced that it had entered into an agreement covering all brownfield construction in Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT which represents almost 40 per cent of national construction activity planned over the next two years.

On 18 October 2011, NBN Co released its first 12-month national rollout plan. The schedule lists the communities in each state and territory where work on the fibre network will begin before September 2012. This national rollout plan indicates the following:

 

Built and ready for service

Work underway

Design and Construction to start within 12 months

NSW

7 400

26 000

117 300

QLD

3 000

11 600

85 600

ACT

-

6 000

14 800

 

NBN Co has advised that this schedule will be updated quarterly and that an indicative three-year schedule will be released in 2012.

(c) NBN Co receives hundreds of new applications each month and as such, the following numbers are taken as at 11 October 2011. NBN Co plans delivery of fibre to precede premises being occupied in all contracted developments. The average number of days from application assessment to contract signature is 33 days.

(d) As of 11 October 2011, the number of developer contracts under which construction is expected to be completed is 596 for 2011-12, 341 for 2012-13 and 4 for 2013-14.

(e) On 13 May 2011, NBN Co announced that it had appointed Fujitsu Australia Limited as its prime alliance partner to deliver fibre infrastructure to new developments. Under the agreement, Fujitsu will manage the design, construction and associated works for the deployment of fibre to new developments, with the initial value estimated at over $100 million for the first 12 months. Information contained within the NBN Co/Fujitsu contract is a commercial matter for both companies.

(f) The bow-wave applications represent the backlog of requests received from developers for fibre deployments that were not completed prior to NBN Co becoming the provider of last resort on 1 January 2011. The transfer of these applications back to Telstra is a one-off occurrence and has already taken place.