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Monday, 22 August 2011
Page: 8994

Broadband

(Question No. 357)

Mr Fletcher asked the Minister representing the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, in writing, on 10 May 2011.

(1) Is it a fact that Telstra's access network is required to be decommissioned as customers are transferred from it to NBN Co Limited's network.

(2) What number of customer premises are today connected by Telstra's access network (to the nearest 100 000) using (a) copper wire, (b) hybrid fibre coaxial, and (c) fibre optic cable.

(3) Which, if any, of the following components of Telstra's access network are required to be decommissioned under the agreement: (a) copper wire, (b) hybrid fibre coaxial, and (c) fibre optic cable.

Mr Albanese: The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

(1) Under the framework for Telstra's structural separation, Telstra's migration plan will provide for the progressive disconnection of Telstra's copper network and the broadband capability of its hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) network as the wholesale-only NBN Co fibre network is rolled out.

(2) According to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) Communications Report 2009-10, as at June 2010, there are 8.66m Telstra standard fixed-line telephone services in operation (p.30). This figure includes services provided over the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and other fixed-line technologies. It also includes both retail, including residential and business, and wholesale services.

According to the NBN Co Limited's Corporate Plan 2011-13, the number of subscribers on Telstra's HFC network is 0.4m (p.42).

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Internet Activity Survey (IAS), as at December 2010, there were a total of 24,000 fibre access connections in Australia. This figure includes connections provided on Telstra fibre networks and other fibre access provider networks. The IAS can be found at: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/8153.0/.

(3) The definitive agreements provide for the progressive disconnection of Telstra's copper network and the broadband capability of its HFC network as the wholesale-only NBN Co fibre network is rolled out.