Today the Expert Panel commissioned by the Australian Government to review proposals to build the National Broadband Network provided its report to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy.
The proposed network represents the centrepiece of the Government's pre-election commitments in the communications sector. The Government has committed up to $4.7 billion of public funding, and will consider any regulatory changes necessary to facilitate the network roll-out.
Proposals to develop the network were received from Singtel Optus, Acacia and Axia (who each submitted national proposals), as well as TransACT and the Tasmanian Government (who submitted proposals to roll-out a network in particular areas). Telstra was excluded from the process on 16 December 2008 for not submitting a compliant proposal.
The Government will now consider the Expert Panel's report, and is expected to make a decision on the proposals in March 2009.
A team from Frontier Australia and Frontier Europe advised the Expert Panel and the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy on the economic and regulatory issues associated with the request for proposals.
For more information, please contact Marita O’Keeffe at m.okeeffe@frontier-economics.com.au or call on +61 (0)3 9620 4488.
