Leighton Holdings-owned Nextgen Networks has won a contract to rollout backbone transmission points to 100 access points as part of the Regional Backbone Blackspots Program.
On Thursday last week Computerworld revealed the Federal Government was poised to announce the winner of a deal to provide 6000km of fibre optic broadband to six locations: Emerald and Longreach, Queensland; Geraldton, Western Australia; Darwin, Northern Territory; Broken Hill, New South Wales; Victor Harbor, South Australia; and South West Gippsland, Victoria.
In a statement, Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy said the backbone would be the first foundations of the National Broadband Network (NBN) on the mainland.
“This priority $250 million investment will directly benefit more than 395,000 people in 100 regional locations and create new jobs across five states and the Northern Territory,” Conroy said in a statement.
“These regional backbones are the first building blocks of the National Broadband Network on the mainland and will stimulate competition and better broadband services across regional Australia.
“This is just the beginning and the National Broadband Network will ensure high-speed broadband is also expanded to all homes, schools and workplaces across Australia.”
Nextgen's win is expected to create 1000 full-time positions with the company operating and maintaining the infrastructure for five years.