Federal Minister for Communications Malcolm Turnbull has announced that while the Federal Budget provides $20.9 billion in equity funding to NBN Co over the period 2014–15 to 2017–18, the Government’s investment is capped at $29.5 billion, and when the equity contributions cease the balance of the project must be funded by the private sector.
The $20.9 billion comes in addition to $5.2 billion in equity provided in previous financial years from 2008–09 to 2012–13 and $3.4 billion expected to be provided in 2013–14.
The move has raised speculation as to how attractive the project may be to private investors and who may be interested in investing in it in different regions.
