Conroy to release NBN study
A further study on the implementation of the national broadband network (NBN) will be revealed on Thursday by Communications, Broadband and the Digital Economy Minister Stephen Conroy after promising to publish it before the federal budget.
Minister Conroy addressed participants in a conference in Melbourne that he would request for any feedbacks or advise from the telecommunications industry once the study is released.
''The report includes advice, among other things, on the detailed operating arrangements, network design, financial analysis, the structure of the company and the legislative framework around how the NBN should operate,'' Mr Conroy said.
He said the study contains 84 recommendations, with 500 pages long.
Consulting firm McKinsey & Company was appointed to write the study several months ago. They received $25 million from the government as payment for the study.
On the other hand, the Department of Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy has exhausted at least $85, 800 on NBN-related activities, which includes a wiki website, web hosting, and report preparations.
NBN Co has displaced multiple offices around Australia and has an estimated 200 staff. The broadband service that the government promised that NBN will render is currently constructed in Tasmania.
The broadband service is anticipated to operate in June.
The government will pay NBN $43 billion, however, analysts pointed out that the cost may be less if Telstra hands over some parts of its fixed infrastructure to the government.