Telecommunications

Tasmania enjoys the same standard of advanced telecommunications infrastructure as that found elsewhere in Australia. The Tasmanian telecommunications network has digital capability at every network site. These sites are interconnected by digital radio and optic fibre, using state-of-the-art self-healing, digital, hierarchy technology.

Tasmania is also served by four different mobile phone networks comprising both GSM and CDMA technology. These networks are operated by Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Each operator has included the state in plans to deploy their next generation, or 3G, networks.

Whilst Tasmania’s telecommunications capability meets the demands of modern industry, in excess of 90 per cent of the state’s infrastructure is owned and controlled by Telstra. Telstra’s services in Tasmania are delivered from an advanced core network, which comprises over 90,000 kilometres of optic fibre, in excess of 200 exchange sites and the only two operational trunk cables across Bass Strait.

The Tasmanian Government has invested approximately A$30 million to create the Connect Tasmania network, a partnership with industry to enable the commercial development of an independent competitive alternative to Telstra. The Connect Tasmania network includes approximately 500 kilometres of backhaul optic fibre and arrangements to link the state to mainland Australia over an exclusive connection via the Basslink optic fibre cable.

The Tasmanian Government’s strategic commitment to facilitating competition in Tasmania’s telecommunications market has led to the conduct of two ground-breaking, fibre rich, Next Generation Networks trials. These trials are:

• The Tasmanian Collaborative Optical Leading Test-bed (TasCOLT); and
• Aurora Energy’s Broadband over Powerlines (BPL).

Click here for more information regarding TasCOLT.

Tasmania is poised to take a leadership role in the progress of Next Generation Telecommunications in Australia.