Editing Telecommunications in Australia (section)

===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.