Qld: Fibre optic cable to link Cairns and Brisbane

AAP General News (Australia)
02-01-2000
Qld: Fibre optic cable to link Cairns and Brisbane

BRISBANE, Feb 1 AAP - Nearly 1,700km of fibre optic cable will be laid alongside the
Brisbane to Cairns railway line as Optus extends its broadband communications network.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie today dug the first sod on the $80 million underground
cable network, due for completion next April.

"Not only will it increase telecommunications capacity, it will also stimulate competition,
which should result in lower prices," Mr Beattie said.

The new network will also give towns and cities along Queensland's east coast greater
access to the Internet and tele-medicine services.

"Scans can be done on a pregnant mother in Townsville and that can be viewed by medical
specialists in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, New York - wherever it needed to be done,"

Mr Beattie said.

Under a contra-deal negotiated between Queensland Rail, Optus and cable provider company
Reef Networks, the state Department of Main Roads and Transport will get free use of the
cable.

The Queensland government has not charged Optus for the use of Queensland Rail land.

AAP bja/sc/ej/de

KEYWORD: CABLE

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