NBN Equipment Contracts to Create 400 New Manufacturing Jobs

17 Jan 11

Four hundred new manufacturing jobs will be created for Australian workers following the signing of three National Broadband Network equipment contracts.

Welcoming the signing of the contracts that help bring the NBN a step closer to reality, Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr, on behalf of Broadband Minister Senator Stephen Conroy, said he was delighted the contracts, which total $1.6 million, were being awarded to three companies with significant operations in Australia.

“The companies signing these contracts today are part of the Australian manufacturing industry. Their involvement in the NBN rollout will create jobs for Australian workers and increase the skills we have in this country,” Senator Carr said.

“Australian company Warren & Brown Technologies and Australian located global companies Prysmian and Corning will help the Government deliver the NBN through the supply of essential hardware equipment. This includes underground and aerial cable, user connection equipment, splice closures, fibre distribution hubs, optical distribution frames and sub-racks.

“These companies will help the Government build the NBN during the next five years.”

In selecting the companies, NBN Co undertook a procurement process consistent with their Corporate Plan and related 30 year business modelling. During the process, the companies demonstrated a commitment to investing in local manufacturing and skills development, to deliver the volumes required.

“This announcement demonstrates the Gillard Labor Government’s commitment to actively promote opportunities for local small and medium-sized enterprises to participate fully in the NBN project in meaningful and continuing ways,” Senator Carr said.

The NBN will generate jobs and underpin our long-term economic and international competitiveness. It will allow our high schools, colleges, universities and TAFEs to connect with each other and provide better education services to students of all ages. And it will enable our researchers to communicate more effectively with each other.

Thanks to the NBN, regional and rural Australians will be able to have face-to-face medical consultations without travelling distances like 200 kilometres to a surgery.

For more information on the NBN, visit www.nbn.gov.au. For more information on the Government’s support for industry, including small business and manufacturing, visit www.innovation.gov.au.