The Australian | February 28, 2011 | Ian Grayson
Optus chief executive Paul O’Sullivan said tenders for operation of the giant fibre network should be issued on a state-by-state basis to enhance competition and ensure the NBN has the best chance of delivering acceptable levels of customer service.
“These contracts should be reviewed every (few) years, based on the quality of service and efficiency of each of the operators,” he said. “By having a variety of operators it will be possible to do comparisons between them.
“What’s also important is that no retail carrier is able to take control or have a strong say in the operation of these companies.”
Delivering a keynote presentation to a gathering of technology media on the Gold Coast, Mr O’Sullivan said the NBN should also be overseen by an independent board to ensure its operation remains at arms’ length both from government and existing telecommunications players.OPERATION of the $36 billion National Broadband Network should be put out to competitive tender if the project is to have a chance of being a commercial success, a senior industry figure has warned.
He likened such a body to Australia’s Reserve Bank which is free to set monetary policy without direct government influence or intervention.
“Whatever the model it is important we have a structure in place to ensure we don’t create another lumbering monopoly. We can’t afford for the NBN to become the British rail or Telstra of the 21st century,” he said.
Mr O’Sullivan, who has maintained a relatively low profile in the ongoing debate surrounding the NBN, said it was time to move on from the arguments about whether it should be built and instead focus on how it can best serve Australians.
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