Rollout of the National Broadband Network

Realising our broadband future

Earlier this year, the Rudd Government’s $43 billion broadband plan made the fi rst step towards unfurling its networks across Australia’s mainland with a call for tenders to form a partnership with NBN Co in the implementation and operation of the National Broadband Network.

In February, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy visited Mt Isa in Queensland’s outback – the halfway point along an extensive broadband spine that will cover 3,835km between Darwin and Toowoomba – to inspect initial fi eldwork at the site, where the fi rst stages of the network’s development will begin.

It is estimated that this fi bre optic link will take approximately 18 months to complete, and will directly benefi t 160,000 Australians living in rural and outback communities. The link will provide a ‘backbone’ for the national network, which Senator Conroy believes will drive down prices in remote areas, and provide essential information technology.

“Once complete, this link will allow other broadband providers to enter the market and offer faster broadband speeds, cheaper prices and more choice for people and businesses across the region,” he said.

The day after the minister’s visit to Mt Isa, NBN Co advertised for information technology organisations to put forward tenders for operations that will help to link the new wholesaler cabling system to retail networks.

On 19th February 2010, NBN Co posted a Request for Capability statement on their website, calling for tenders for Business and Operational Support Systems and Services. The request appealed for “Capability Statements from experienced Business and Operational Support Systems and Services (BSS/OSS) software vendors, development houses and integrators to support the build, implementation and ongoing maintenance of the BSS/OSS required to operate the National Broadband Network.”

The tender closed in March, and on 1st April 2010, NBN Co issued a statement to advise that it had selected IBM, Oracle and Accenture to deliver and operate critical software support for its core business functions.

A second Request for Capability Statement was released on the company’s website in late March, calling for tenders for the Design and Construction services for the fi bre to the premises network. The tender specifi ed that “potential construction partners will need to show they have the capability and capacity to design and deliver telecommunications infrastructure projects of signifi cant size and complexity”. NBN Co intend to encourage mid tier and smaller contractors to register interest, who will then be assisted with offering assistance to the head contractors during construction.

Senator Conroy emphasised the importance of the building stage, saying, “While the NBN will ensure Australia has a world-class broadband network for generations to come, it will also inject valuable investment into the economy and create jobs for Australians during the construction phase.”

Senator Conroy’s visit to Mt Isa marked the transition from the testing phase of the National Broadband Network in Tasmania to the inception of the Australia-wide network, which will ultimately provide 100Mbps broadband coverage to 90 per cent of the population.

In September 2009, work commenced on the project in Tasmania, where it is predicted that 5000 homes across three small towns will be connected to the broadband network by July this year.

In February, Senator Conroy told the Senate that the Tasmania works were well underway. “The trenching and layout of the conduit for the transmission link between Cambridge to Midway Point has been completed. We are on track for the fi rst services to be connected in Tasmania from July this year,” he said.

The government is still working with NBN Co to cement details of the rollout and schedule of the mainland broadband program, and it is estimated that the entire National Broadband Network project will take approximately eight years to complete.

From its beginnings in Western Australia as a construction partner to the mining sector, UGL has grown to become a multi-national, multi-sector service provider operating in engineering, construction, maintenance and asset management through four divisions: UGL Infrastructure, UGL Rail, UGL Resources and UGL Services.

A market leader in the design, construction, installation and maintenance of plant and systems in the power and water sectors, UGL Infrastructure is also a leading provider of mechanical and electrical systems to the road and rail infrastructure sectors.

UGL Infrastructure has been providing services to the power and water sector since 1969 and is experiencing strong and growing presence in Canada and New Zealand in the power sector and for water projects in South East Asia. In Australia, an exceptional list of projects and an outstanding safety record provide proof of the breadth and quality of capability across three divisions.

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

POWER

In Power, UGL has design, construction and commissioning capability in three segments.

Power Generation, where UGL delivers balance of plant design, construction and integration solutions for clients such as the 390MW Zealand and Western Australia.

Power Systems. This team have been delivering high-voltage substations for power utilities and large industrial complexes for more than 50 years with over 52 substations delivered in the last 10 years, the majority of which were design and construct.

Power Transmission, delivered via BBUGL (Balfour Beatty United Group Infrastructure JV) operating since 1982. BBUGL offers turnkey design, supply and construction of overhead and underground electrical transmission and distribution systems. The BBUGL JV has successfully delivered projects nationally such as the 66km Innisfail - Edmonton (NorthEast QLD) 275kV line and the 70km Shotts - Wells (South-West WA) 330kV line.

UGL’s technology independence provides freedom to select best-of-breed solutions from power OEMs globally, assuring clients of good value and technical excellence.

WATER

The Water business plays a vital role in our communities, providing leading technology solutions in both municipal and industrial water and waste-water treatment. Highly trained process specialists combined with the ability to design, operate and commission water plants delivers real value to customers - a true cradle-to-grave service.

UGL can undertake preliminary feasibility studies for any water or wastewater problem and are skilled in the operation and maintenance of water and waste-water infrastructure. This level of involvement, from inception to completion and commissioning, is a key factor differentiating UGL from the competition and guaranteeing clients great results, time after time.

With award winning projects such as the Water Matters Alliance in Townsville and leading technology applications for waste-water treatment in places like North Head (Sydney) and Cleaner Seas in Cairns, experience in delivering alliance-based solutions successfully continues to be a driving force behind UGL’s success in this sector.

For more information;

email: infrastructureinfo@ugllimited.com phone: +61 2 8925 8925 The Transport and Communications division is the leading provider of integrated systems for road and rail infrastructure, and for defence and communications. This specialisation ensures that UGL is a partner of choice in major mechanical and engineering projects around the management and control systems and telecommunications solutions are required.

Acquisitions have strengthened design capability and today, UGL boasts a world-class communications business, exporting products across the globe. Innovative solutions - from steel smelting systems to level crossing solutions - are combined with proven delivery expertise in design, project management, procurement, system integration, commissioning and the application of advanced technologies. A maintenance and refurbishment capability completes the comprehensive service offering in this sector.

UGL continues to demonstrate success in Transport and Communications with the TrackStar alliance and North South Bypass Tunnel in Queensland, where performance has resulted in further major project awards in the region, including the Brisbane Airport Link project.