McKinsey, KPMG win NBN advisory role

A consortium composed of consulting firms McKinsey and KPMG has been appointed as the lead advisor for the government's $43 billion National Broadband Network project.

The consortium — dubbed McKinsey-KPMG — was one of nine groups competing for the work, which will involve providing a range of advice and services to the National Broadband Network Company, according to Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.

One particular focus of the pair will be the delivery of a wide-ranging implementation study for the network and its associated company in early 2010. The implementation study will determine the operating arrangements for the state-owned company managing the NBN as well as detailing network design and financial details such as attracting private sector investment, according to previously released tender documents .

It will also examine how procurement opportunities can be made available to "local businesses", although the documents released in April did not stipulate if that specifically meant Australian companies.

The selected consultancy may need to engage sub-contractors at need (the documents set the date for such appointments as late July), as the implementation study will examine commercial, technical, regulatory and legal aspects of the planned network.