- There is a probability of duplication with upgrades planned under Federal government and private sector programs which is why the NSW government will reboot its $100 million Gig State program.
- According to the government, a Request for Information will be released in the following weeks. This will be followed by an open market process in mid-2022.
- Even though there was already NBN fibre infrastructure in locations such as Dubbo, Wagga, and Parkes, the original Gig State RFP still called for fibre and fixed wireless networks.
There is a probability of duplication with upgrades planned under Federal government and private sector programs which is why the NSW government will reboot its $100 million Gig State program.
The change is set to commence after the transition of the government’s political supervision from departed minister John Barilaro to recently installed Deputy Premier and Bathurst MP Paul Toole.
The state government said in an announcement yesterday that “Rural and regional NSW communities on a satellite internet service are set for improved digital connectivity thanks to the NSW Government’s reprioritised $100 million Gig State project”
“The refreshed project will also trial a range of emerging technologies, such as low-earth-orbit satellites to assess the best options in communities in hard-to-service areas,” the government further added. In this statement, the government implies that it wants to help fund LEO substitutes to NBN Co Sky Muster.
According to the government, a Request for Information will be released in the following weeks. This will be followed by an open market process in mid-2022. This open market process will include sending invites to telecommunications providers to submit options for improving internet service across priority locations across the state. The priority locations will be determined based on their own existing and planned coverage.
Deputy Premier and Bathurst MP Paul Toole said: “Telecommunications is traditionally a Federal responsibility, and it’s great the Commonwealth Government and private sector delivered improved internet service in some of Gig State’s original locations, but the job is not done yet.”
“All regional communities deserve the same fast and reliable internet service as those in the city and we will continue to take a leadership role, pivoting our investment to where it’s needed most.”
In addition to this, the Deputy Premier and Bathurst MP also promised that some projects initiated under the last minister would continue. Originally, Gig State promised fibre upgrades in the hamlets of Wamboin, Bywong, and Sutton near Canberra. However, an RFP process ended without a suitable bidder. In this case, the deployment of fixed wireless networks in the so-called Cobar corridor, including Nyngan, Trangie, Narromine, and Cobar is also set to continue.
Even though there was already NBN fibre infrastructure in locations such as Dubbo, Wagga, and Parkes, the original Gig State RFP still called for fibre and fixed wireless networks. Nevertheless, plans by NBN Co to build extensive regional fibre networks to business zones as well as upgrade its FTTN, FTTC, and fixed wireless networks replaced the Gig State plan. It was also paused in late 2020.
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