The selection of a mix of construction contractors and power utilities in its choice of service providers will allow NBN Co to evaluate the suitability of different contractor and construction models. The companies are still in discussions with local communities about planned construction methods. The selection of Trenchless Technology would reduce disruption in towns and cities and protect environmentally sensitive areas. Three organisations have been awarded construction contracts for three of the first five release sites being Silcar Pty Ltd, Armidale NSW, Transfield Services, Minnamurra/Kiama Downs, NSW and ETSA Utilities, the South Australian power distribution network operator in Willunga.

The selection of the construction contractors followed the detailed design of each site allowing NBN Co to source an aerial and an underground solution for each one.

In the fourth site, Ergon Energy will construct the passive optical fibre network in Townsville. For the fifth site, Brunswick in Victoria, NBN Co is in discussions with Telstra on the potential design and construction solutions that may be possible making use of the Telstra infrastructure.

NBN Co CEO, Mike Quigley said, “We will be offering free fibre-to-the-premises connections to home and business owners in the first release sites.

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“Premises will then be NBN ready when retail service providers start to use our network to offer high-speed broadband services.”