Minister for Communications Stephen Conroy today told the Senate Estimates hearing that the government would foot $11 billion of its $43 billion NBN proposal, but admitted its implementation study would determine private sector investment.
Minister for Communications Stephen Conroy today told the Senate Estimates hearing that the government would foot $11 billion of its $43 billion NBN proposal, but admitted its implementation study would determine private sector investment.
At this stage we are envisaging the Commonwealth's commitment to be in the order of $11 billion
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy
Conroy gave his estimate on the basis that the NBN would operate as a government-controlled commercial entity that could issue its own debt in order to cover the estimated $38 billion to $43 billion cost of the project. The figure included the $4.7 billion allocated in the recent Federal Budget.
"We are assuming that it could be funded with a 50/50 debt-equity ratio, and that of the equity the Commonwealth will hold 51 per cent. This means that, at this stage we are envisaging the Commonwealth's commitment to be in the order of $11 billion," Conroy told the hearing today.
While Conroy expressed confidence there would be "substantial interest" from the private sector, he also admitted that interest hinged on the findings to come from its NBN implementation study that has yet to commence. The government allocated $53.2 million to the study at the 2009 Federal Budget.
The study is expected to be critical in determining both the level of interest from the private sector and the extent to which the government can redeploy existing network infrastructure to that envisaged under the NBN.
"I recognise that consideration of these complex issues amongst others will be fundamental to the success of the network," said Conroy. "The study will determine the operating arrangements, detailed network design, and ways to attract private sector investment."
Private sector interest, which Conroy reckons could cut down the $43 billion estimate he has promoted as the cost, included the "possibility that companies will want to vend-in existing assets that can support the National Broadband Network for equity or some other financial arrangements."
The study will look at the configuration of the network, prices that will be offered, future adoption rates, and access services on the FTTP network, said Conroy.
