Telstra signs $1.6bn HFC contract with nbn

Telstra has signed a new $1.6 billion contract to link the NBN up to its existing hybrid-fibre-coaxial footprint.

Under the deal, Telstra will provide the planning, design and construction management for the remainder of the work required to extend the NBN to the more than 3 million homes within the footprint of Telstra’s HFC pay TV cable network.

Telstra’s HFC network footprint spans Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Perth and Adelaide.

Telstra will conduct in-exchange construction activities itself, while allocating the field construction activities to nbn’s contractor partners. Construction is expected to be complete at the end of the NBN build, currently scheduled for 2020.

The premises will primarily be connected to nbn’s HFC network, but other elements of the NBN’s multitechnology mix will be incorporated to ensure a rapid rollout.

After signing an MoU in December, Telstra and nbn have been cooperating on preparatory work including preparing exchange locations and HFC planning and design work.

Due to this work and the trials conducted on the Optus HFC network in Redcliffe, Queensland, nbn is on track to have the initial 10,000 HFC premises available for orders by the end of June.

Telstra CEO Andrew Penn welcomed the agreement. “Telstra has a long and proud history in network construction and we believe we will bring great expertise to this important part of the NBN network. We are already mobilising our workforce to ensure we support nbn in their rollout schedule,” he said.

“We look forward to working with nbn on this significant program of work, helping to bring the NBN network to millions of homes and businesses.”

Image courtesy of Eva Rinaldi under CC