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Australian govt to build national broadband network

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-07 14:03

CANBERRA -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Tuesday the government will establish its own company to build the national broadband network.

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"It will connect all other houses and business in Australia with next generation wireless and satellite technologies that will deliver broadband speeds of 12 mega-bits per second," Rudd told reporters, adding that the service would be up to 100 times faster than that currently available.

During a joint press conference with Communications Minister Stephen Conroy and Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner in Canberra, Rudd said the new network will deliver fast speed broadband to 90 percent of the country through optical fibre.

"Every person and business in Australia, no matter where they are located, will have access to affordable, fast broadband at their fingertips," Rudd said.

According to Rudd, the government will make an initial investment of 4.7 billion Australian dollars ($3 billion) in the company but intends to sell its interest within five years after the network is fully operational.

Building the network will take seven to eight years, and rollout of the network is expected to start in early 2010, Rudd said.