NBN Co has selected Telstra, two electricity companies and two construction contractors to test broadband delivery and installation methods at five sites.
NBN Co will test underground and above-ground techniques of installing fibre cable to houses and businesses in regions with different terrain, housing density, demographics, climates and existing infrastructure - Brunswick, Armidale, Kiama Downs, Willunga and Townsville.
Telstra has been awarded the contract to connect Brunswick with fibre cable, using its network of underground ducts and pipes.
Electricity companies have been chosen for less-populated areas, where there is less underground infrastructure.
ETSA Utilities will build an underground network in Willunga, and Ergon Energy the network in Townsville.
Silcar, a joint venture between Thiess Services and Siemens, has been selected for Armidale in northern New South Wales, while Transfield Services has won the contract for the Kiama Downs area on the NSW south coast.
NBN Co is a federal government initiative to build a national broadband network capable of delivering the internet at 100 megabits a second using a mix of cables, wireless and satellite.
