NBN Co selects satellite ground station construction contractors

NBN Co has selected construction companies in Western Australia and Victoria to build ten satellite ground stations that aim to bring fast, reliable and affordable broadband to Australia's most isolated communities.

 

Bunbury-based Perkins (WA) Pty Ltd will build four satellite transmission centres in WA.

Cockram Corporation Pty Ltd, based in Melbourne, will build six facilities located in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia.

 

The contracts are worth approximately $180 million in total and were awarded following a comprehensive procurement process.

 

Construction is due to be completed in 2015 in time for the launch of NBN Co's Long Term Satellite Service that will deliver high speed broadband to an estimated 200,000 homes, farms and businesses in rural and remote parts of the country.

 

NBN Co's satellite programme will provide a boost to the local economies in the areas where the ground stations will be located. An estimated 20-30 construction workers will be required to build each facility. A further 60 people are expected to be employed nationwide to manage the service.

 

The Long Term Satellite Service is designed to provide retail broadband providers with the same basic wholesale speed (up to 12Mbps*) and access price ($24 per month) that are available on the fibre and wireless networks.

 

Matt Dawson, NBN Co's Program Director, Satellites, said:

"NBN Co's satellite service is designed to bridge the divide between the city and the bush and ensure all Australians can receive high speed broadband. Better broadband will give people in the most isolated parts of the country access to economic and social opportunities that the rest of the country takes for granted."

 

Perkins Managing Director, Dan Perkins, said:

"We pride ourselves on having building project teams that consist of the most experienced people in the industry. We look forward to playing a part in helping to build the infrastructure needed in WA to support NBN Co's Long Term Satellite Service."

 

Cockram Corporation Managing Director, Malcolm Batten, said:

"As one of Australia's longest running construction companies, our professional expertise covers the full spectrum of specialist construction services including telecommunications. Consequently, Cockram Construction is ideally suited to undertake the construction of ground stations in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia."