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NBN begins connecting to Australian airports

written by Sandy Milne | March 5, 2020

The National Broadband Network has begun deploying infrastructure to Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra airports ahead of scheduled works.

The company is currently negotiating site access to a fourth in Brisbane.

Though the “volume rollout” is scheduled for mid-2020, company executives told a Senate estimates hearing late on Tuesday night (9pm AEDT) that work at domestic and international airports would be complex. NBN Co expects airport rollouts to continue beyond June.

Chief network deployment officer Kathrine Dyer added that NBN Co was unable to use land access powers contained in federal telecommunications laws to complete the works.

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“We very much need to work in collaboration with the airports to construct to those premises,” she said.

“Beyond June, the intention is to have a construction plan and a date, so if something is not able to connect to the NBN there’ll be a reason for that with a construction plan of when they’ll be able to connect.”

The issues add to NBN Co’s rollout woes; including securing Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permits for over 4,500 premises in Sydney’s western business hub of Parramatta.

Chief executive Stephen Rue suggested works on these sites, much like the airport upgrades, are likely to be delayed.

“We simply can’t complete the build before June. These are complex and sensitive sites and really can’t be rushed,” he said.

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