Telstra and NBN have signed an MoU to negotiate a contract for the telco to support the NBN network build in areas currently covered by its HFC footprint.Under the MoU, Telstra and NBN will negotiate to finalise a contract covering the design, engineering, procurement and construction management of the NBN network, Telstra today advised, with the contract expected to be completed early in 2016.
NBN has advised that discussions with Optus are ongoing with a similar objective.
NBN states that it has been discussing a shared management approach with both Telstra and Optus for their HFC respective networks.
Telstra will additionally undertake some early works to support the build of the NBN network in its HFC footprint while the contract is negotiated, including preparing Telstra NBN exchange locations and HFC planning and design work.
Meanwhile, Telstra has been awarded two new contracts as one of the network operations and maintenance services providers to NBN, with an estimated combined first-year revenue of $80 million, subject to the volume of work.
Under the first contract, running over three years, Telstra will fix faults on the copper network and undertake a small number of new connections for services that are yet to transfer to the NBN.
The second, running over four years, relates to fixing faults and connecting new services on the NBN for the fibre-to-the-node, fibre-to-the-premises, fibre-to-the-basement and HFC technologies in select areas once a customer has migrated to the NBN.
NBN has today additionally advised that along with Telstra, Service Stream and BSA have each been awarded an operate and maintain master agreement for the provision of “operate and maintain” services on fibre-to-the-premises, fibre-to-the-node and HFC.
The works will involve activating homes and businesses, along with ongoing maintenance, with work covered by the agreements relating to operations and maintenance work once an area has been declared “ready for service”, NBN stated.