About the Tasmanian National Broadband Network

A Tasmanian National Broadband Network company has been established by the Commonwealth with the support of the State Government.

The company is known as the Tasmania National Broadband Network Company (NBN Tasmania).

Aurora Energy is supporting the venture using the value of its telecommunications physical assets. Aurora's Cambridge data centre will be the nerve centre for NBN Tasmania.

NBN Tasmania is the first stage of the Commonwealth Government's ambitious multi-billion dollar national broadband network.

Tasmania was selected to lead this national initiative because of the extensive work we have done in developing and testing the concept of fibre-to-the-premises.

Specifically:

Aurora has developed an extensive optical fibre network to meet the communications needs of the Tasmanian electricity supply industry, and also to supply high speed communications capability to selected public and private organisations including those in the health and education sectors.
The Tasmanian Government decided in late 2007 to select Aurora Energy as its strategic partner to commercialise the TasGovNet optical fibre backbone, which was laid in conjunction with the gas pipeline development (from George Town through Launceston to Hobart, and along the north-west coast to Port Latta).
Aurora Energy and Basslink Pty Ltd entered an agreement in 2008 to commercialise the optical fibre link from northern Tasmania to Melbourne, providing for the first time a communications alternative to the existing Telstra links.

Roll out plans

The existing Tasmanian optical fibre network will be extended over a period of five years to pass approximately 200,000 homes and businesses throughout the state.

The first stage of this work, due for completion in the second quarter of 2010, involves extension of the fibre backbone:

from Cambridge via Midway Point to Triabunna
from Port Latta to Smithton
from George Town via Scottsdale to St Helens.

View the initial National Broadband Network rollout map (PDF 169KB).

The first three towns to receive fibre-to-the premises distributed via local networks will be:

Midway Point (PDF 210KB)
Smithton (PDF 169KB)
Scottsdale (PDF 188KB)

Community information sessions

As the Tasmanian National Broadband Network construction progresses, the company will be publicising relevant information and representatives will be available for consultation with local communities.

Consultation will be organised through council representatives and senior officers, and relevant representative bodies including chambers of commerce and other industry organisations, and local government, planning and development bodies.

As each stage of the five year rollout is developed, appropriate consultation will take place and public announcements will be made.

Who's who at NBN Tasmania

Mr Doug Campbell AM is Executive Chairman of NBN Tasmania.

Mr Campbell has 30 years experience in telecommunications in Canada and 18 years in Australia as a senior executive in Telstra. He was awarded an Order of Australia for his contribution to the development of telecommunications services in regional and remote Australia.

Other members of the board of directors are:

Dr Dan Norton
Ms Alison Terry
Mr Jody Fassina
Mr Greg McCann
Mr Mark Kelleher
Mr Sean Woellner

For biographical information on the directors, view the media release Strong skills on NBN Tasmania board (PDF 107KB).

Community and local discussions

NBN Tasmania is committed to keeping affected local communities informed of progress, and has commenced consultations with local government authorities in relation to the construction program.
View the NBN Tasmania council presentation (PDF 2.4 MB)

More information

If you require additional information, please email National Broadband Network Tasmania, clearly stating the nature of your inquiry.

National Broadband Network Tasmania