Broadband

Mr Fletcher asked the Minister representing the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, in writing, on 31 October 2011:

In respect of each first release site for the National Broadband Network (ie, Scottsdale, Midway Point, Smithton, Brunswick, Townsville, Kiama, Armidale, Willunga), (a) how many premises were connected (i) overhead, and (ii) below ground, (b) of the premises connected below ground, (i) how many were connected via an existing Telstra duct, and (ii) in how many was new ducting or new underground trenching or boring required, (c) how many pits, if any, were required to be repaired or remediated, (d) in how many instances was it necessary to repair or remediate the Telstra copper connection after the installation of fibre, and (e) what was the cost of building the network (i) in total, (ii) per premises passed, and (iii) per premises connected.

Mr Albanese: The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

The first release sites for the NBN were chosen and designed to test the variety of locations and operational conditions likely to be encountered in the overall rollout of the NBN.

The pattern of connection methodologies employed was varied to enable an assessment of performance in these trials. The lessons from these trials are now being incorporated in the design of the volume rollout. Accordingly, the particular characteristics of these trials cannot be considered indicative of the likely experience in the rollout overall.