Optus, Australia's second-largest telco, said it was in "ongoing discussions" about the 43 billion dollar (42 billion US) NBN, which aims to provide 93 percent of the country with high-speed Internet by 2017.
But a spokeswoman for Optus played down a report in the Australian Financial Review (AFR) that it was in "advanced talks" to shift its cable customers to the fibre-optic network.
"The article in today's AFR is purely speculative," she told AFP.
"Like all retail service providers, Optus is engaged in ongoing discussions with NBN Co., the department (of broadband and communications) and the industry more broadly around next steps for the NBN."
The network, described as Australia's biggest ever infrastructure venture, received a significant boost in June with major telco Telstra signing over access to its copper wire and cable networks in an 11-billion-dollar deal.
Bringing Optus on board is seen as critical to the success of the project, with the SingTel-owned firm already capable of providing comparable Internet speeds on another network servicing 1.4 million city homes.
Analysts see a deal as beneficial to both Optus and the government's NBN Co., which is overseeing the project, by neutralising the telco as a competitor.
October 11, 2010 at 12:41 AM
It will be a great bid, If this will become successful. This will provide the more prosperity and flexibility to the Australian people.
SEO Services Australia