Optus may close network for NBN: Conroy

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said that a potential deal between NBN Co and Optus could see the telco's customers with internet and TV services delivered via hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) receiving those services via the NBN fibre.

"We're in discussions with Optus, as in the National Broadband Network are, about the possibility of migrating broadband customers across to the National Broadband Network," Conroy told an Optus customer calling into ABC 612 this morning. "There'll be a commercial decision made between Optus and NBN that could have some impact."

Conroy indicated that, similar to the government's $11 billion heads of agreement with Telstra, a deal between NBN Co and Optus would likely see the telco's cable network shut down and its customers transferred onto the NBN.

"What that could mean is when the fibre comes and gets connected to your home, those services are delivered through the fibre rather than the HFC, but that's a commercial arrangement that the National Broadband Network has been having discussions with Optus about," he said.

Earlier this week Optus director of government and corporate affairs Maha Krishnapillai said that while Optus was in discussions with NBN Co, it was in no way close to finalising a deal with the government-owned company, because there were a number of issues surrounding pricing and industry laws that still had to be cleared up.