Leighton subsidiary Nextgen Networks has pipped Optus for the $250 million deal to roll-out 6000 kilometres of backbone links to regional Australia.
Over the coming weeks Nextgen boss Phil Sykes will be touting a new pricing regime for regional backhaul, which the telecoms industry hopes will undercut Telstra's pricing.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has called for tenders to build the $250 million backhaul telecommunications links, which target six regional centres in all states and territories except Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.
Part of the government's National Broadband Network plan, the $250 million injection to create new backhaul links in regional areas, could start construction by September this year.
The government yesterday laid down AU$8 million for the next year to fill mobile phone black spots on sections of highway as well as selected towns in WA and NT.
Conroy's blind adherence to his net filtering plan will abandon Net neutrality ideals and push ISPs down a slippery slope of unprecedented responsibility for a callously politicised Australian Internet.
Pretty soon, the government will be screening and filtering our email as well as making blogs like this one disappear.
The level of ignorance from Australian politicians about technology can be staggering. Here's some of the worst examples we've seen, and a short recipe for resolving the issue.
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