Regional Broadband Scheme contract and grant registers

We maintain registers for the fixed wireless and satellite broadband contracts and grants we administer under the Regional Broadband Scheme (RBS). Note that a review of the RBS is currently underway. More information can be found under Modernising universal telecommunications services.

Register of fixed wireless and satellite broadband contracts

The register of contracts includes the following information:

  • The name of the contractor.
  • The duration of the contract.
  • A summary of actions to be undertaken by the contractor under the contract
  • A description of services, facilities or customer equipment to be provided under the contract
  • A description of any contractor costs or expenses to be reimbursed or partly reimbursed
  • The total amount paid or to be paid by the Commonwealth under the contract or an estimate of the total amount paid or to be paid under the contract
  • The method of working out the total amount paid or to be paid by the Commonwealth under the contract

Regional Broadband Scheme: NBN Co

Contractor: NBN Co Limited (NBN Co).

Contract Duration: The initial contract covered three funding financial years ending 30 June 2024. The contract allows for an extension of up to two additional financial years. In the first half of 2024, the contractual option was exercised and the contract has been extended by one year to 30 June 2025.

Summary of actions to be undertaken by the contractor and a description of services, facilities or customer equipment to be provided under the contract: NBN Co has obligations to deliver Fixed Wireless Broadband Services and Satellite Broadband Services to premises in the NBN fixed wireless and satellite footprints under the legislated Statutory Infrastructure Provider regime under Part 19 of the Telecommunications Act 1997.

A description of any costs or expenses to be reimbursed or partly reimbursed: The RBS is designed to offset reasonable net losses incurred by NBN Co in connecting, supplying and using facilities to offer fixed wireless or satellite broadband services to end‑users at premises in the NBN fixed wireless and satellite footprints.

Contract Payment Mechanism: The contract allows for the distribution of funds from the RBS Special Account to NBN Co through the issuing of a Nominal Funding Entitlement Certificate by the department for each relevant financial year during the contract term. In line with the requirements of section 86 of the TCPSS Act, the department has issued Nominal Funding Entitlement Certificates to NBN Co for the funding financial year ending:

Amount to be paid: The amount to be paid each financial year during the term of the contract varies as the figures are based on the base component charge collected by the ACMA based on its assessment of the total number of chargeable premises associated with a local access line for a carrier or nominated carrier for each of the months of the relevant financial year. 

Register of fixed wireless and satellite broadband grants

The register of grants includes the following information:

  • the name of the grant recipient.
  • a summary of actions to be undertaken by the grant recipient
  • a description of services, facilities or customer equipment to be provided by the grant recipient
  • a description of any costs or expenses to be reimbursed or partly reimbursed by the Commonwealth
  • the total amount of the grant or the method of working out the grant.

The department currently has no fixed wireless and satellite broadband grants under the Regional Broadband Scheme.