NBN Co has pushed back its search for active network equipment suppliers to build the planned National Broadband Network.

NBN Co says it has received a “large number of quality responses” to its request for capability statement sent out last month, despite a short two-week response window. The firm has now extended the timeframe for creating a shortlist of suppliers, which was originally expected before the weekend, to the end of this month – and while the subsequent requests for proposals were to be announced mid-February, NBN Co is now giving the more cautious forecast that RFPs will go out by the end of March.

“The company is currently working through the Statements as part of its detailed evaluation process,” said NBN Co in a release. “This Request for Capability Statement process is designed to identify preferred suppliers capable of supplying suitable network equipment, supporting network construction and maintenance and also contributing to network testing and development over many years.”

“NBN Co expects to finalise a short list of suppliers by the end of the month. Following this process, NBN Co will invite selected supplier to participate in one or more formal Request for Proposal processes during the first quarter of the year.”

The active equipment RCS sought responses from vendors specialising in FTTP-related technologies such as GPON and optical network terminals, as well as Ethernet end-user premise equipment, transmission hardware and VDSL2 paraphernalia. NBN Co plans to issue more such RCS papers over the coming months, covering areas such as passive networking, satellite and wireless equipment.