17 February, 2011 - NBN Co makes wireless play
In its first move related to the fixed wireless portion of the national network, NBN Co purchases Austar’s remaining spectra holdings at a cost of $120 million. The deal provides the wholesaler with 2.3GHz and 3.4GHz bands of spectrum to roll out fixed wireless access to approximately four per cent of Australian premises but to date, the technology to be used is yet to be determined. Plans from CSIRO to commercialise its own fixed wireless technology are hampered by the spectrum deal, as the Ngara technology is built to work most efficiently off analogue television spectrum in the 600-700MHz frequency bands.
7 March, 2011 - Telstra hedges its bet
Telstra reveals plans to roll out its own fibre network in major cities, should its financial heads of agreement with NBN Co fall through. The announcement casts doubts on the oft-delayed agreement, which would required NBN Co to formalise its own plan B for network construction and costs.
29 March, 2011 - NBN Co incorporated
Following furious debate and an extension of Parliament sitting hours into the Autumn break, the Federal Government secures passage of key bills relating to the operation of NBN Co and access arrangements under the network. Amendments proposed by the Greens, Senator Xenophon and the Liberals open NBN Co up to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, and also secure equal wholesale pricing across technologies above the 12Mbps entry package.
Passing of the bills was preceded by proposal of last-minute amendments from the government, prompting fury from the likes of Optus and halting negotiations around specific aspects of the network.
1 April, 2011 - NBN Co scraps mainland construction tenders
Days after, and in what first seemed like an April Fools’ joke, NBN Co announces it will scrap all 14 bids for construction of the mainland network, citing unacceptable pricing. The $12 billion contract will instead by negotiated in private between NBN Co and rumoured tenderer, Silcar, with head of corporate services, Kevin Brown, hoping to achieve a better outcome out of the closed-door talks.
The new deal, if consummated, would rely more heavily on NBN Co’s agreement with Telstra coming to fruition, as well as more than $2 billion worth of supply chain contracts for network equipment.
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