Australia kicks off NBN tender process

JULY 1, 2009 � Australia's Rudd Government has announced the six regional locations that will compose the first round of the $250 million National Broadband Network rollout. The announcement came with the opening of a competitive tender to construct, operate and maintain the necessary backbone links.

Construction on the links is expected to begin by September.
The initial locations to receive investment are:

• Emerald and Longreach, Queensland.
  
• Geraldton, Western Australia.
  
• Darwin, Northern Territory.
  
• Broken Hill, New South Wales.
  
• Victor Harbor, South Australia.
  
• South West Gippsland, Victoria.
  

"These projects will kick-start the first of 25,000 local jobs that will be directly supported by the eight-year National Broadband Network rollout," said Senator Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. "Subject to the outcome of the first round tender, more locations will be identified later in the year."

Tender documentation can be found here.

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