Construction on Australia’s first hyperscale fibre network has started in Western Sydney with Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher turning the first sod on the $1.5 Billion national HyperOne project.
Minister Fletcher, who joined HyperOne founder Bevan Slattery and local construction workers onsite in Penrith said today was a major milestone in the roll-out of this new 20,000 km fibre network.
“Projects such as HyperOne drive competition, improve regional connectivity and deliver better services for Australians,” Mr Fletcher said.
“This means new economic opportunities and more jobs – including here in thriving Western Sydney.”
Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade and Western Sydney and Member for Penrith, Stuart Ayres, said it was exciting that construction was starting on this nationally significant infrastructure project in Western Sydney.
“Faster, more competitive and secure data connectivity will be a major incentive for businesses wanting to invest in Western Sydney including the manufacturing, aviation and defence industries,” Mr Ayers said.
“We know there is a huge opportunity to create more jobs in Western Sydney by attracting greater private investment into the region.”
HyperOne Founder and CEO Bevan Slattery said he was building HyperOne to deliver world-class infrastructure to communities across Australia that deserved the same access to fast, reliable and affordable connectivity that Australians living in our capital cities have.
“For too long there has been a digital divide that is holding our country’s economy back and hurting regional communities,” Mr Slattery said.
“We are very proud to be starting construction on this transformational project in the Greater Western Sydney region – one of the fastest growing parts of the country.
“By delivering world-class connectivity across the nation we will increase greater investment in peri-urban, regional, rural and remote areas of Australia and stop the drain of people, and services to our capital cities and see more higher paid jobs locally.
Mr Slattery said HyperOne would create up to 10,000 jobs during construction and the project was being designed, manufactured and built utilising Australian businesses and local subcontractors to ensure local communities benefited.
For the first stage of the build, 2,300km of diverse fibre network was being delivered by two Australian companies GenusPlus and UGC- 5DG It is expected this section of the HyperOne network will be fully commissioned by the end of 2023.
Infrastructure company Genus Managing Director David Riches said the first stage of construction of HyperOne will deliver a new diverse connection between Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.
“This is a critical piece of infrastructure that delivers a much-needed upgrade along this highly congested route for businesses and consumers, “ Mr Riches said.
“Importantly it is also being specifically built to create new access points to enable better internet and mobile connectivity along the entire route, a game-changer for many regional communities in NSW.
“We are excited to be partnering on this project and working with HyperOne to maximise local job opportunities for workers in the telecommunications industry and improve connectivity for thousands of Australians.”
