Coalition's $4.5b NBN backflip improves sale chances

Phillip Coorey and Paul Smith

Sep 23, 2020 – 3.52pm

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The federal government has acknowledged the $4.5 billion upgrade of the National Broadband Network will make the company more attractive to a buyer but says any privatisation is still several years away.

While Communications Minister Paul Fletcher and NBN Co chief executive officer Stephen Rue declined to estimate the value of the company – either in its current state, or by 2023 when the upgrade is due for completion – the prospect of eventual privatisation was factored into government deliberations when approving NBN Co's corporate plan.

Phillip Coorey is the political editor based in Canberra. He is a two-time winner of the Paul Lyneham award for press gallery excellence.

Paul Smith edits the technology coverage and has been a leading writer on the sector for 20 years. He covers big tech, business use of tech, the fast-growing Australian tech industry and start-ups, telecommunications and national innovation policy.