The comprehensive analysis of Australia’s largest national infrastructure project has found that the existing NBN plan is forecast to miss its completion date by three years and would cost $A73 billion to complete.
The company says an alternative approach is capable of delivering very fast broadband to Australians sooner and at less cost to the taxpayer.
Executive Chairman Dr Ziggy Switkowski said “The NBN can be rolled out faster and at a much lower cost by combining proven technologies with existing capable networks.”
Announced in October, the Strategic Review was established to examine the progress and cost of the current rollout, as well as NBN Co’s financial and operational status, and to put forward alternative strategies for the delivery of very fast broadband to Australian homes and businesses.
The news comes as NBN Co announced global telecommunications executive Bill Morrow as its new CEO.
The current Vodafone Australia CEO will join the company in the New Year and will be based in Sydney.
Mr Morrow said “I staunchly believe that this important initiative, done right, will provide a boon to the nation’s economy. The digital revolution is picking up speed. With the right infrastructure and industry collaboration, Australia will reap the benefits for decades to come. While I am sad to be leaving a great company like Vodafone, I am looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and ensuring every Australian is able to benefit from a world class National Broadband Network.”
Further to this, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) recently announced that it has accepted NBN Co’s Special Access Undertaking (SAU).
The SAU is a key part of the regulatory framework that will govern the prices NBN Co, as a wholesale open access telecommunications network, can charge for the services it supplies to retail telecommunications companies, as well as other terms.