Nextgen $850 million Network gets Green Light

Issue Date:  12 September 2000
Issued By:  Nextgen Networks

Nextgen Networks today welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Communications, Senator the Hon. Richard Alston, that it had been granted a telecommunications carrier licence, which will enable it to begin the rollout of its 8,400 km network.

Nextgen said they were proceeding as planned in the development of the $850 million national optic fibre cable network extending from Brisbane to Perth via Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide.

The network will provide cost competitive, high quality bandwidth services to domestic and international telecommunications carriers, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), major corporates and government users.

Nextgen Networks is a business venture between Leighton Contractors subsidiary, Vytel and Macquarie Bank. Lucent Technologies will be the supplier of technology and services.

Phil Cooper, Managing Director of Vytel said the telecommunications carrier licence would enable Nextgen Networks to provide a wide range of services to many regional centres in Australia, previously only available in capital cities.

“This project will provide unheralded opportunities for the delivery of faster and more efficient services like high speed data and Internet, to regional and rural Australia,” Mr Cooper said.

He said the network was one of the most significant investments in telecommunications infrastructure in Australia’s history and would provide more than 1250 jobs.

Nextgen, will be Australia’s first true independent, wholesale high bandwidth network owner and operator. Lucent Technologies will provide the next generation of optic fibre technology which will be introduced for the first time onto the Australian market and will also supply operations and maintenance support once the network has been completed.

Research by industry experts, Ovum and KPMG shows that market demand for bandwidth in Australia is growing at 40% a year.

“The network we will provide ensures secure, reliable and high quality service and will take Australian users well into the future for telecommunications services,” Mr Cooper said.

For information contact:
Ashley Mason,
Leighton Holdings
Ph: (02) 9925 6027
M: (0412) 550 098