Nextgen, Vic Govt sign fibre sharing deal

Nextgen Group and the Victorian Government have signed a fibre sharing agreement aimed at improving connectivity in the state's south-west corridor.

The commercial agreement involves improving high-capacity data networking between Warrnambool and Geelong by connecting customers in the region to Nextgen's nationwide fibre network.

As part of the deal, Nextgen will add an additional 320 km of fibre to its 3330 km footprint in Victoria and connect two of the data centres operated by its subsidiary Metronode.

The government is using the project to boost infrastructure diversity and resilience in Victoria's south-west. Premier Dennis Napthine said the project forms part of its commitment to improve mobile competition and broadband speeds in regional Victoria.

A fire at a Warrnambool exchange in late 2012 left up to 60,000 Victorians without fixed and mobile voice and internet services for weeks. The disruption caused an estimated economic impact of nearly $17 million.

The agreement also covers the possibility of extending the existing Warrnambool infrastructure to other parts of regional Australia.

In 2009, Nextgen - then known as Nextgen Networks - was awarded the contract to build the wholesale backbone for the federal government's Regional Broadband Blackspots Program (RBBP).

Pictured: Warrnambool courthouse, courtesy of Matt under CC