iiNet and Primus are amongst the first two Australian service providers to strike a wholesale broadband agreement (WBA) with NBN Co. to provide services to their respective retail customers.
With the trial arrangements set to be completed today, the two service providers will be able to continue adding new subscribers for services they will offer over the National Broadband Network (NBN).
Following some initial disagreements over service terms with NBN Co, the wholesaler offered up a new agreement, which may have been a key motivator in why both Primus and iiNet decided to finally sign a deal.
"After negotiations with NBN Co, final changes to the WBA resolved earlier key sticking points, in particular: issues relating to appropriate sharing of risk and liability resulting from use of the network ...," said Steve Dalby, iiNet's chief regulatory officer. "We welcome NBN Co's changes to the original WBA as a sensible and positive approach. Our product development, testing and marketing will continue uninterrupted, which is a very positive outcome for NBN Co, iiNet and, most importantly, our new NBN customers."
NBN Co. said that any service provider that has yet to sign a WBA won't be permitted to add new customers and would be limited to conducting service trials. However, TeleGeography reported that a number of service providers felt the current WBA placed too much responsibility for network failures on them.
For more:
- TeleGeography has this article
Related articles:
NBN Co. unveils first retail ISP customers, but Optus and TPG are glaring omissions
Australia's NBN puts wholesale pricing structure in order
Australia's iiNet continues acquisition feast with Internode deal
Telstra hands in revised separation plan to Australia's telecom regulator
iiNet confirms it is buying TransACT for $60M