Australia’s plans to build a US$35 billion high-speed national broadband network overcame a major hurdle yesterday when the Senate passed a bill to restructure the country’s largest telecommunications company.
After days of debate, senators voted 30 to 28 to separate the retail and commercial arms of former state monopoly Telstra, to increase competition as its infrastructure is incorporated into the new network.
“This legislation paves the way for a more efficient roll-out of the NBN [National Broadband Network],” Australian Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said.
The government argues the network, which aims to connect 93 percent of the population by 2017, will boost the economy and ease isolation for the vast country’s rural regions, while the opposition says it is too expensive.
“This legislation is the holy grail of micro-economic reform in this sector,” Conroy said, adding Australia has the fifth-most expensive broadband charges among the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). “For Australian consumers, this reform has been a long time coming.”
The ambitious broadband proposal was a key election pledge from Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and a major factor in allowing it to form a minority government backed by rural independents after Aug. 21 polls were deadlocked.
The government hopes the delivery of fast broadband will revolutionize workplaces and services — including in education and health — for the sprawling nation, where thousands live in remote communities.
Under its proposal, Telstra will likely become the NBN’s largest customer, transferring clients from its copper wire and cable networks to the new fiber optic system to be built and operated by the national broadband network.
The House of Representatives is expected to pass the Senate’s amendments on Monday, but it will still require the approval of Telstra shareholders.
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