NBN Co inks network, site monitoring deals

NBN Co has signed two new contracts: one for the construction of its transit network and another for software to keep an eye on its network sites.

NBN Co has selected Visionstream Australia to build the first stage of its transit network (fibre-optic cable connecting NBN Co's central hub to the NBN's equivalent of exchanges) in a contract worth up to $19 million.

This involves building 149 transit links connecting 168 fibre access nodes. Of those nodes, 30 will be points of interconnect. The remaining points of interconnect (there are 121 in total) will be linked in the next three years, when the network management layer to the Network Service Operation Centre in Melbourne is also expected to be finished.

"The transit network will allow NBN Co to connect the different fibre access nodes to points where the traffic will be transferred to service providers. We're very pleased to have secured an agreement with Visionstream Australia to support the construction of the backbone of the National Broadband Network," Dan Flemming, NBN Co head of construction said.

Work on the transit network will start this month.

The National Broadband Network has also decided on a site management product to keep an eye on its points of interconnect and fibre access node sites, announcing yesterday that it had chosen AccessTel Kentrox Australia's Remote and Optima products and services.

NBN Co will be using the products to monitor access to racks and cabinets, monitor and control critical network equipment, receive notifications when power failures occur, as well as monitor temperature, humidity and equipment failure.

"Site management is becoming extremely important to help minimise costs, especially for networks that are spread across large areas," John Ryan, executive vice president of sales and marketing of AKA said in a statement.