Property developers are unhappy with how the National Broadband Network is being rolled out in Western Australia, complaining they are not receiving enough guidance and support from NBN Co.
They also claim interim measures from Telstra to provide infrastructure to some smaller developments ahead of the rollout are proving “unsatisfactory”.
The rollout of fibre in new housing developments was given priority in the federal government’s NBN policy to enable prompt connections to the wider network, once it became available, without the cost of retrofitting.
While NBN Co will provide and install fibre in developments of more than 100 premises, it’s up to developers to design and construct the ‘pit-and-pipe’ infrastructure in which the fibre will be laid.
But the Urban Development Institute of Australia (WA) said developers were unable to clarify guidelines from NBN Co. It said more than 20 developments across the state were relying on NBN Co to lay the fibre, which would enable them to become ‘NBN ready’.
The UDIA said advice given by NBN Co had contradicted published specifications. In one case, the guidelines specified a required pit size but NBN Co staff later contradicted that with advice that an undersized pit was acceptable.
The format NBN Co requires for pit-and-pipe designs is also different to what developers in WA use routinely. It requires designs using the Map Grid of Australia 1994, whereas WA survey and civil engineers work to the Perth Coastal Grid and local project grids.
The UDIA said the subsequent need for duplication of designs was increasing development costs.
Chief executive Debra Goostrey told WA Business News developers were being forced to use foreign procedures simply because it was how things were done on the east coast.
The lack of technical support in WA also made it difficult for developers to resolve issues.
“The NBN staff here are trying very hard to work with us but they are bound by policies that are being developed on the east coast,” Ms Goostrey said.
“Developers were delighted when the NBN was first announced but the rollout has been difficult, cumbersome and simply isn’t working.”
She said the rollout in WA could be improved if NBN Co decentralised its approach and gave the WA branch more responsibility.
The UDIA’s survey of developers found they were also unhappy with the stop-gap measures Telstra has provided as they await the rollout.
Government policy states Telstra will deliver services and infrastructure to developments with under 100 premises until NBN Co’s rollout reaches that area.
Telstra has “generally agreed” to provide copper infrastructure. However, it can also provide fibre in some circumstances, or a wireless service if the timeframe between the development’s construction and NBN Co entering the area is considered to be “short”.
But a wireless-only telephony service has meant some developers are unable to get their projects signed off because they are required to have a fixed telephone lines for emergency situations.
Telstra has said it will not install copper in developments in areas on NBN Co’s three-year roll out plan – many of which will not get access to fibre services until as late as 2016.
The telco has now agreed to work to provide a solution where there is a requirement for fixed-line services. But remaining developments fitted with wireless telephony are still left without fixed-line internet.
Landcorp’s Perry Lakes development in Floreat is relying on NBN Co to lay fibre but is yet to be given a date of when this will occur.
It has advised potential buyers and builders Telstra will provide wireless telephony but they may need to wait for the NBN rollout to get land-line internet access.
