Construction companies and Telecos to forge partnerships to support NBN

Q&A with Matthew Schultz, NBN and Digital Economy

Coordinator at Ipswich City Council Communication Network Design and Construction 2011

Communication network design and construction is a difficult process given the circumstances that fibre optic cable needs to be laid under. The logistics involved as well as the construction considerations that need to be taken into place is an important process and developing a best practice should be seen as crucial to a projects success. IQPC’s Communication Network Design and Construction conference addresses such pressing needs by presenting expert insights and industry case studies into minimising construction disruption, overcoming “to premises” construction issues, and best practice and technical developments. This event will ensure that your team achieves all of these goals. Telecoms IQ: The biggest project within the industry is the NBN. So in you perspective what you perceived to be the main challenges in implementing it? Matthew Schultz: I could say that the main challenge is being the sheer size and scale of the NBN. This is in addition to the individual myriad of local issues that will be faced by constructing the NBN further down in every urban street in Australia. Telecoms IQ: The NBN is the largest infrastructure project in the nation’s history, with high stakes among numerous industries, so where should we look to model and benchmark our process? Matthew Schultz: I think we can look to model from many overseas countries in the deployment of their SDTP networks. This can include Verizon in the U.S, the myriad of European initiatives, and the activity that is currently happening in Japan and Singapore.

Telecoms IQ: How do you see the various stakeholders coming together to work towards implementing the NBN? Matthew Schultz: So far, there is good evidence of stakeholders working together to address the practical information of the NBN project and I am confident that this momentum of industry engagement and goodwill of stakeholders working together will continue. Telecoms IQ: How do you think construction companies and Telcos should work with city councils to ensure the smooth implementation of the NBN? Matthew Schultz: Councils are staking to forging close partnerships with the relevant construction companies in telecommunication carriers, such as NBN Co., to ensure local issues are recognized. This will also support and expedite the NBN role at typical issues that large councils will be interested and include components of the NBN that require aerial cabling; the placement of further distribution hubs in road reserves and local streets; and the potential impact and implications in future designs. Matthew Schultz, NBN and Digital Economy Coordinator at Ipswich City Council, will be presenting at the Communication, Network Design, and Construction 2011. For more information about this event, please visit www.comdesignconstruction.com.au or E-mail enquire@iqpc.com.au. Alternatively you can call us on 02-9229-1000.

Telecoms IQ: Can you give us a little introduction about yourself and your experience in communication networks? Matthew Schultz Yes certainly look I always had quite a range of experiences in the information technology, telecommunications, geospatial, and engineering perspective. More recently I have been specializing in mixed generation broadband infrastructure development

projects and with a focus on SDTP network design from a local government perspective an emerging digital innovation initiative over high speed broadband network to realize economic benefits.