National Broadband Network

The Rudd Government announced in April 2009 it will establish a new company that will invest up to $43 billion over eight years to build and operate a National Broadband Network delivering superfast broadband to Australian homes and workplaces.

NBN Project

The Communications Alliance set up its NBN Project to assist the communications industry address requirements arising from the Government's policy on the National Broadband Network (NBN).

After initial industry forums in May and July 2009, seven different projects were identified to cover the various issues that need to be addressed.

The initial work and focus is on developing an NBN Reference Model that seeks to identify the roles and responsibilities of NBN Co and service providers in the NBN framework as well as identifying key principles related to end users, services and interconnection of networks. The NBN Reference Model provides the framework which informs and contributes to the other projects areas which cover specific aspects of the NBN.

The seven work areas address specific topics that will require detailed work to identify standards, guidelines and processes for the delivery of wholesale and retail services in the NBN environment.  They are (with more information available via the hyperlinks to the NBN wiki):

Additional information on the NBN project is in a presentation given to stakeholders:
CA NBN Project briefing Dec09 (.pdf, 2249KB)

NBN Project - Registration of interest

Communications Alliance invites member organisations who wish to participate in the NBN project as outlined in
NBN Industry Connection Discussion Paper No. 2 Tackling the NBN questions – Proposed way forward for industry
to register at the
NBN Project Team registration webpage.

Full read and write access to the NBN Wiki is provided to registered Communications Alliance members only. This access allows members to contribute to the NBN project work on an ongoing basis.

Non-member organisations who have an interest in the NBN and meet the eligibility requirements for Communications Alliance membership can register as observers directly on the NBN Wiki. Simply click on ‘Log in’ in the top right hand corner and then click ‘request one’ to register for access.  Observers have read-only access to the NBN Wiki and are able to comment on the content.

Key Dates

Submissions are due:

Submissions were due:

Recent Key Announcements

Links

Communications Alliance Documents

NBN Milestones Calendar

Click here to see the full NBN Milestones calendar.

 Year Month Comms Alliance Government NBN Co
 2010 August Draft NBN B2B Interaction Process Requirements Specification – comment period closes 3 September 2010
NBN Co released three Product Overview papers on its
Fibre Access Service
Wireless Access Service and
Satellite Access Service
plus its Product Technical Specification for its Fibre Access Services.
Comments are due 16 September 2010

National Broadband Network B2B Interaction Process Requirements Specification

(Draft NBN B2B Interaction Process Requirements - August 2010, 929 KB)

The draft NBN B2B Interaction Process Requirements Specification identifies the primary B2B interactions and accompanying processes that will enable participating Retail Service Providers to facilitate the delivery of a working service to an End User on the National Broadband Network. It is expected that the contents will provide technical guidance to RSPs with regards to the operational processes and specific IT specifications required to enable interaction with NBN Co when provisioning customer services on the new national broadband access network.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES AT 5.00 P.M. (AEST) ON FRIDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 2010

All submissions received will be made publically available on the Communications Alliance website unless the submitter requests otherwise.

NBN Wholesale Telephony Access Service

August 2010, Release 1

NBN Wholesale Service Definition Framework - Telephony Access Service (.pdf, 1251 KB)

The NBN Wholesale Service Definition Framework - Telephony Access Service provides:

  • a framework for the definition of a Wholesale Telephony Access Service that may be available on the NBN and potentially by other Wholesale Telephony Access Service Providers.
  • a description of the key capabilities to be specified in the Wholesale Telephony Access Service.

National Broadband Network
End User Migration Reference Model

(Draft NBN End User Migration Reference Model, .pdf, 266 KB)

The draft NBN End User Reference Model paper identifies from an industry participant’s perspective the processes and interactions required to facilitate the migration of an End User’s existing telephony and data services onto the National Broadband Network.  It is expected that the contents will provide guidance to all who prepare detailed operational procedures and high level IT specifications for NBN migration participant interaction.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CLOSED AT 5.00 P.M. (AEST) ON FRIDAY 16 JULY 2010

NBN End-User Premises Handbook

June 2010, Release 2

(NBN End-User Premises Handbook, .pdf, 1150 KB)

The NBN End-User Premises Handbook describes:
  • the main components of an NBN End-User Premises and the key details surrounding each component.
  • the installation practices and guidelines for the installation and operation of the NBN at customers’ homes, businesses and other service sites.
  • key information and issues relating to End-User Premises, intended to provide a common reference point for further discussions among the communications industry, construction industry, NBN infrastructure providers, government and regulators.
This edition incorporates a correction amendment dated August 2010.

NBN Optical Access

June 2010, Release 1

(NBN Optical Access, .pdf, 361 KB)

The NBN Optical Access paper defines the generic elements in the passive optical infrastructure, providing an explanation of the vocabulary of the passive optical network, its building blocks, and the technical issues which must be considered and resolved for the NBN, including:
  • Factors impacting the optical budget;
  • Dimensioning parameters and optical budget calculations;
  • General considerations for connectors versus splicing; and
  • Testing.

NBN Fibre Ready Distribution Networks

May 2010, Release 1

(NBN Fibre Ready Distribution Networks, .pdf, 203 KB)

The NBN Fibre Ready Distribution Networks  paper outlines the issues associated with distribution networks, and in particular with the physical plant used for the housing of network cables.

NBN FTTP Planning Express Conduit

May 2010, Release 1

(NBN FTTP Planning - Express Conduit, .pdf, 249 KB)

The NBN FTTP Planning - Express Conduit  paper provides a guide when planning telecommunications infrastructure in greenfields areas for the installation of new main conduits feeding one or multiple development(s) and/or the interconnection of their conduits with those of another carrier.

NBN Overview of Technical Standards

April 2010, Release 1

(NBN Overview of Technical Standards, .pdf, 391 KB)

The NBN Overview of Technical Standards identifies the relevant standards which underpin the ability of the global telecommunications industry to:

  • implement the NBN Reference Model as documented by the NBN Reference Model working group;
  • Implement the NBN Wholesale Services (currently limited to active layer 2 wholesale services) as documented by the Wholesale Services working group.
It also discusses the:
  • relevance of the on-going work of international standards bodies to the NBN;
  • characteristics of competing access technologies; and
  • standards relevant to the need for the NBN to be secure, robust, environmentally sustainable, future proof, and to support IPv6.

NBN Reference Architecture - High Level Options for the NBN

January 2010, Release 1

NBN Reference Architecture -  High Level Architecture Options for the NBN (.pdf, 887 KB)

The NBN Reference Architecture -  High Level Architecture Options for the NBN defines:

  • The end-to-end broadband network architecture framework.
  • A range of potential passive and active NBN wholesale interconnect scenarios.
  • The relationship between the customer equipment (such as Optical Network Terminations and Residential Gateways) and Retail and Wholesale Service Providers.

NBN Wholesale Service Definition Framework - Ethernet

December 2009, Release 1

NBN Wholesale Service Definition Framework - Ethernet (.pdf, 2318 KB)

The NBN Wholesale Service Definition Framework - Ethernet provides a description of the key capabilities to be specified in the NBN service definition for the following service types:

  • Ethernet Line Access Service (ELAS);
  • Ethernet Line Backhaul Service (ELBS); and
  • Ethernet Multicast Service (EMCS).