The Federal government’s $250 million backhaul programme will cost around $1,000 per person served – and benefit two of Labor’s three most marginal seats.

With a formal tender process for six new fibre transmission links now announced, the government says Darwin in the Northern Territory and Emerald/Longreach in Queensland will have new backhaul links before the next election – both are in electoral divisions held by Labor by the slimmest of margins.

An announcement from communications minister Stephen Conroy named the six areas for “priority rollout” of the NBN as  Emerald and Longreach in Queensland, Geraldton in Western Australia, Darwin in the Northern Territory, Broken Hill in New South Wales, Victor Harbor in South Australia and South West Gippsland in Victoria. While population estimates of the regions vary, the combined population of each region puts the total figure at 280,000 – providing for a substantial broadband subsidy per head.

According to the ABS, Broken Hill has a population just under 19,000, Emerald and Longreach some 13,000, Geraldton just under 32,000, and Victor Harbour 10,000 – areas in South and West Gippsland together have up to 85,000 and Darwin 120,000.

While four of the six routes go to safe Liberal/National seats, the Queensland seat of Flynn (home to Emerald/Longreach) was won by Labor MP Chris Trevor by less than 300 votes at the last federal election. Similarly, the NT seat of Solomon was won by Labor’s Damian Hale by less than 200 votes. Both regions are likely to find a wealth of new broadband competition before the next election is called. “This is just the beginning and the National Broadband Network will ensure high-speed broadband is also expanded to all homes, schools and workplaces across Australia,” Conroy said, noting that more locations to receive now backhaul links would be unveiled later this year. “Submissions from a wide range of stakeholders have helped the government identify the first six priority locations for these initial backbone infrastructure investments. However, it should be clear that National Broadband Network backbone infrastructure investment will not be limited to these individual locations and routes.”  

Tender documents specify that the Commonwealth “will own the fibre and other passive/physical network elements,” which may later be transferred to the NBNCo.

The builder of the links may be granted an indefeasible right of use, and will be required to manage, operate and maintain the infrastructure for at least five years. Bids will score marks if tenderers make a material contribution to the build on top of government funds, and will be required to show how the new links will contribute to retail competition – presumably showing details of how retailers will respond with DSLAM investments in the Band 2 and Band 3 target areas.

The tender allows for other technologies like microwave for parts of the build.

The government is also preparing for Australia’s bid to host the Square Kilometre Array – a massive telescope project which will generate unheard of amounts of data and require substantial new fibre links. Work on the SKA is being conducted in Geraldton’s University, and the tender specifies than at least 48 optic fibres will be required for the region – more than double the number of lines required for each other location.

Luke Coleman