NBN retailer accreditation questioned in access seeker rush

The expansion of the retail service provider market in the wake of the National Broadband Network rollout could bring risks to rollout schedules and customer experiences without careful accreditation, a digital economy analyst has warned.

In forecasting potential changes in accordance with the NBN, Malcolm Alder, digital economy partner at analyst firm KPMG, said the introduction of non-traditional RSPs to the NBN would be a logical move for companies looking to expand revenue among consumers.

World in other words ruled

"To get from where you are today - in a world in other words ruled by bricks and mortar, in other words ruled by so many sales per square metre of footage - to that sort of a world of multiple channels and very different overall platforms... is pretty significant to put it very mildly," he told attendees of Communications Alliance's Broadband and Beyond 2011 conference this week.

The new RSPs may offer to provide direct internet-based retail services themselves or collaborate with other vertical industries to provide a package of services to users. Alder argued that during some vertical industries could find the proposition unnecessary, others would likely opt to offer the services to ensure greater reliability of connections.

The potential access seekers

The potential access seekers would as well be required to undergo interoperability testing with NBN Co in a billing/operational support systems sandpit to be erected at the wholesaler's Melbourne-based network operations centre later this year. A second, isolated fibre sandpit is only mandatory for VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and IPTV service providers.

NBN Co expects to use a single wholesale broadband agreement with all access seekers and will undergo one-on-one consultant regarding the eligibility of each seeker and the alignment of their products to wholesale services. NBN Co expects to roll out the network and confirm with access seekers on a business-as-usual basis by the end of 2012.

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