Editing Telecommunications in Australia (section)

==Core technologies, the network, backhaul and the local loop==
===Copper cable and optical fibre networks===
{{see also|Fiber to the x}}
Prior to the government opening telecommunications to multi player competition the PMG (and later Telecom Australia) operated a [[vertically integrated]] system, providing the [[Core network]], [[Backbone network|backhaul]], ancillary networks and a range of services to end users.

With opening telecommunications to multi provider competition the government required Telstra to sell wholesale access to its core facilities and networks.

In the 2000s, larger ISPs began taking over more of the delivery infrastructure themselves by taking advantage of regulated access to the [[Local loop unbundling|unconditioned local loop]]. As well as significantly reducing costs, it gave the service providers complete control of their own service networks, other than the [[local loop|copper pair]] (phone line from the exchange to the customer).<ref>[http://archive.iinet.net.au/about/mediareleases/00mediarelease6.html 'iinet archives'] Retrieved on 25 September 2008.</ref>

Telstra in 2006 proposed replacing its copper network with an optical fibre node network with the drop connection into end user premises being the existing copper cable. They abandoned this as under competition policy they would be required to open their network to competing carriers on a wholesale basis.

Further options were explored with the [[Rudd government (2007-2010)|first Rudd government]] deciding to set up a [[National Broadband Network]] using Fibre to the Premises as the main carrier network, supported by satellite and wireless to remote areas.

After the election of the [[Abbott government]] in 2013 a Multi Technological Mix was implemented, replacing FTTP where development was yet to start with Fibre to the Node and also repurposing the Telstra and Optus [[hybrid fiber-coaxial|hybrid fibre-coaxial]] networks.

===Cable===
[[File:Fibre-optic cable in a Telstra pit.jpg|thumb|[[Fibre-optic cable]] in a Telstra pit, 2010]]
In the late 1990s, [[Telstra]] and [[Optus]] rolled-out separate [[cable Internet]] services, focusing on the east coast.

===Satellite===
The [[Overseas Telecommunications Commission]] (OTC) was established by Australia in August 1946 with responsibility for all international telecommunications services into, through and out of Australia.

In 1981 Aussat Pty Ltd was established as a GBE to operate domestic satellite telecommunication and broadcasting services. Aussat's charter restricted it from acting as a competitor to Telecom, including a prohibition on interconnecting public switched traffic with Telecom's network.

Proposals for a merger of Aussat and OTC (thereby permitting national delivery of telecommunication services in competition with Telecom) were rejected in favor of disposal of the satellite operator to a non-government entity that would be allowed to compete with Telecom.

Satellites are used to provide telecommunications services in very remote areas. These are primarily the [[Optus fleet of satellites|Optus satellites]] C1 D1 and D2.

There are also a number of [[Earth stations in Australia|satellite earth stations]], which provide access points into the Australian networks:
*[[Intelsat]] has 10 earth stations, 4 for the [[Indian Ocean]] and 6 for the [[Pacific Ocean]].
*[[Inmarsat]] has 2 earth stations, which serve the Indian and Pacific Ocean regions.
*[[Optus fleet of satellites|SingTel Optus Earth Stations]] has several earth stations located in the major cities.
*[[Sky Muster]] satellites operated as part of the National Broadband Network.
*[[Telstra]] has a totals of 48 earth stations, Located between sites in Sydney, Perth and [[Bendigo]] serving both the Australian Continent, Asia-Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean regions.

===Submarine cables===
Due to Australia's large size, sparse population, and relative remoteness to other countries, a significant amount of infrastructure is required for Internet communications. The vast majority of Australia's international telecommunications transit capacity is sourced from undersea several [[fibre-optic cable]]s to Asia and the US: 
*[[Southern Cross Cable]]s to [[New Zealand]], [[Hawaii]] and the US mainland with a capacity of 620&nbsp;Gbit/s, with planned upgrade in Q2 2012.
*[[Southern Cross Cable]]s to [[Fiji]], Hawaii and the US mainland with a capacity of 620&nbsp;Gbit/s, with planned upgrade in the Q2 2012.
*[[Australia-Japan Cable]] to [[Guam]] and [[Japan]]. Primarily used as an alternative path to the United States with a capacity of 320&nbsp;Gbit/s.
*[[SEA-ME-WE 3 (cable system)|Sea-Me-We3]] to [[Indonesia]] and onto Asia, Middle East, the United States and other destinations with a capacity of 40&nbsp;Gbit/s.{{dubious|date=December 2013}}
*[[APNG-2 (cable system)|APNG2]] (previously part of Pac Rim West) to [[Papua New Guinea]] with a capacity of 2x565&nbsp;Mbit/s.
*[https://subpartners.net/indigo.html INDIGO-West] (linking Perth to Jakarta and Singapore.
*[[Gondwana-1]] to [[New Caledonia]].
*[[Tasman Global Access|TGA]] to [[New Zealand]].
*[[Pipe Pacific Cable|PPC-1]] (a joint venture of [[PIPE Networks]] and [[Videsh Sanchar Nigam]]) to [[Guam]] with lit capacity of 80&nbsp;Gbit/s, and potential capacity of 2.56&nbsp;Tbit/s.<ref>[http://www.itnews.com.au/News/157753,ppc-1-delivers-more-speed-than-expected.aspx ITNews, PPC-1 delivers more speed than expected by Ben Grubb Oct 8, 2009]</ref>
*[[Telstra Endeavour]] to Hawaii with a capacity of 320&nbsp;Gbit/s.