Media Release

Refined arrangements for fibre in new developments

Refinements to the arrangements for the provision of fibre in new developments were announced today by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy.

Last December the Gillard Government announced the implementation details for the provision of fibre in new developments.

"Those arrangements have now been refined – in light of experience since December – to give developers and other stakeholders greater certainty," Senator Conroy said.

Under the refined arrangements the key principles are:

• NBN Co is responsible as fibre provider of last resort for developments of 100 or more lots or units that receive planning approval after 1 January 2011;
• Telstra is responsible as provider of last resort for developments of less than 100 lots or units approved after 1 January 2011, pending NBN Co rolling out fibre; and,
• Telstra is also responsible as provider of last resort for developments approved before 1 January 2011 and still awaiting infrastructure.

"Developers can still use any provider they wish to provide their communications infrastructure. These arrangements relate to the provider of last resort," Senator Conroy said.

Telstra will generally provide copper infrastructure, pending the roll out of fibre by NBN Co. Telstra can choose to provide fibre, and in some limited circumstances - for example, due to a short timeframe between construction and fibre rollout - Telstra may provide high-quality wireless services as an interim solution.

Developers will still be responsible for installing pit and pipe infrastructure. 

Before NBN Co will reticulate such infrastructure with fibre, developers will need to transfer ownership of the pit and pipe to NBN Co pursuant to an agreement with NBN Co to provide fibre in the new estate. 

In developments of less than 100 premises, where developers have an agreement with Telstra to provide telecommunications infrastructure, developers will need to transfer ownership of pit and pipe to Telstra as a commercial condition of Telstra serving the development.

"The government is committed to ensuring people in new developments have ready access to quality communications and that means optical fibre technology to the greatest extent possible. These arrangements are helping achieve this goal," the Minister said

The refined arrangements will come into effect immediately.

They will be supported by, but do not require passage of, the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Fibre Deployment) Bill 2011 currently before the Australian Parliament.

Date: 15 June 2011
Contact: Lyall Johnson 0408 258 457