The Australian parliament's Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband Network has opened inquiries into the NBN Co's business case and the rollout of the network in rural and regional areas.
The inquiry into financials will examine the long-term financial outlook for NBN Co, including forecasts related to:
- revenue generation;
- the key financial indicators in the Corporate Plan 2018-2021, and underlying financial forecasts out to 2040;
- the competitive risks facing the multi-technology mix;
- the impact of alternate pricing structures on the economics of the NBN; and
- other matters relevant to the commercial viability of NBN, the Commonwealth’s accounting treatment of government debt/investment in NBN, and the prospect of future sale, in whole or part, of NBN.
The inquiry into the rollout in rural and regional Australia will look at:
- planning, mapping and eligibility for satellite, fixed wireless and fixed line services;
- adequacy of plans and service reliability of satellite, fixed wireless and fixed line services;
- issues in relation to the future capacity of satellite, fixed wireless and fixed line services;
- provision of service by alternative providers of satellite, fixed wireless and fixed line services; and
- any other related matters.
{loadposition sam08}The Committee issued a report last year, listing 23 recommendations, with the use of more fibre for the network rollout being an over-arching suggestion.
However, the Coalition Government dismissed these recommendations, making it clear it would be sticking with its own multi-technology mix which would now be implemented for the remainder of the NBN rollout.
Submissions to both inquiries are open until 29 March.
Photo: courtesy NBN Co