$1Billion Opel Broadband Connect funding delay

Admin — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:33:00 +0000

Will this country ever get the Broadband infrastructure it so throughly requires without continuous delays? In another setback for major Australian Broadband development, the Federal Government has placed a ‘freeze’ on a Broadband Connect deal that it recently struck with Opel consortium (Optus/Elders). This latest hindrance has been brought about from direct legal action placed against Senator Coonan by Telstra. At the end of the day there’s no doubting that the public ,namely the rural sector of which, will be disadvantaged by the legal proceedings.

Telstra began the legal action against the minister early this month after the Government awarded Opel $958 million to build a broadband network. The company alleges the Government did not follow proper procedures in selecting a bidder.

Opel consortium were due to sign the funding deed for Broadband Connect on Wednesday night, but pulled out after receiving advice from the Government’s lawyers

Read the entire article at The Age.com.au

Telstra take action over Coonan

Admin — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 23:40:00 +0000

Controversial Telecommunications giant ‘Telstra’ is poised to take government communication minister Helen Coonan to court over the ‘topped up’ Broadband Connect Program funding decision. The Optus and Elders consortium (OPEL) were awarded funding to the amount of $1 billion to develop Broadband in rural and regional areas, however Telstra wants to know exactly why they weren’t given the opportunity to tender for that amount when the initial funding offered was supposed to be set at $600 million.

According to Telstra, “The Broadband Connect Program Guidelines offered ‘up to $600 million’ of taxpayers’ money to provide broadband to ‘underserved’ rural and regional areas. Telstra submitted its proposal on that basis.” However, instead, almost $1 billion was ultimately awarded to the SingTel Optus and Elders consortium (Opel) to, according to Telstra “largely duplicate existing services with little net benefit to rural Australians.”

Read the entire article here at ITWire

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admin — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:55:00 +0000

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The Broadband Debate – The current state of Broadband in Australia
Over recent years the Australian Federal Government and various Telecommunication Companies (namely Telstra Bigpond & Optus) have periodically discussed the implementation of high speed Broadband Internet throughout the country. With Australia lagging behind other major developed countries in High Speed Broadband Internet Access, recent initiatives such as the ‘Broadband Connect’ program, which is meant to deliver fast Broadband to rural and regional Australia, have been introduced however, will just barely meet some of the coverage areas in our vast and extensive locations. As the Broadband debate continues to mount, slow decision making in Parliament has also impaired High Speed Broadband advancement. This has now witnessed the Federal Government at logger heads with Telstra, Optus led G9 Telco consortium, the Labour Party and even the ACCC over Australian Broadband improvements. All parties involved with the new proposed High Speed Broadband Network are currently submitting proposals that will supply Australia with a Wireless Broadband ( WiMAX ) and Fibre to the Node Network ( FTTN ). Speculation to whether or not it will reach 98% or 99% of the population effectively is also an issue. It’s difficult to predict how long the new Broadband Network process will take with some suggesting development on a new service will not start until late 2008 or early 2009, and actual new Broadband services to become available by 2010 or 2011. Communications minister Senator Helen Coonan has suggested the new proposed Network may provide speeds of up to 12Mbits or beyond. In the meantime the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts will be providing support for those wishing to know more. As for accessing faster Broadband than what’s currently available, Australians will have to sit tight and be satisfied with what they have now along with waiting a couple of more years yet. Whenever that may be…. well your guess is as good as mine, but one things for sure, Broadband Guide will be ready.

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Broadband Guide Blogs » Broadband Connect

$1Billion Opel Broadband Connect funding delay

Telstra take action over Coonan

Want Broadband Now?