The Strategic Review of the National Broadband Network has underlined the need for an almost unprecedented multi-stakeholder national effort to bring the project back onto a successful trajectory, Communications Alliance has said.

Communications Alliance chief executive John Stanton says the review report and the statements by Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull were sobering news for the telecommunications industry, which has been a strong and active supporter of the NBN and its profound potential to benefit all Australians.

“We are still digesting the analysis and recommendations, but we welcome the frankness of the review and the pragmatic approach to assessing the re-engineering options that now lie before us,” John says.

He congratulated Mr Bill Morrow on his appointment as chief executive of NBN Co.

“Anyone who has worked with Bill during his time at Vodafone in Australia can attest to his energy, vision, customer commitment and ability as a game-changer – all worthy attributes that will be needed in quantity in this challenging new role.”

John emphasises the importance of maintaining momentum in the current NBN rollout, despite the risks to immediate progress inherent in multiple reviews and re-casting of plans.

Communications Alliance is heavily involved in a range of NBN operational projects, including the revision of Codes and Standards to facilitate the roll-out of VDSL-2 and Vectoring, future local number portability arrangements, customer transfer mechanisms and the migration of over-the-top devices (such as personal medical alarms) to the NBN.

John says that if the Government went down the path of a multi-technology rollout there were obvious challenges to introducing additional access technologies into the NBN equation, which would require a continuing strong focus on ensuring fit-for-purpose industry codes and Standards, as noted in the Strategic Review report.

“A more complex mix of technologies also throws emphasis on ensuring coherent, user-friendly interfaces between NBN Co and service providers, where Communications Alliance is well-placed to assist,” he says.