Glass and ceramics specialist Corning snagged the biggest contract valued at $1.2 billion.The company will initially supply aerial cable, provide selected types of splice closures and will jointly supply feeder cables and drop cables which will connect individual user premises to the fibre network.Corning will invest approximately $25 million in its Melbourne facility, related equipment and personnel training and expects to create an additional 300 to 400 jobs at the location.Victorian fibre optic equipment manufacturer Warren & Brown Technologies has been awarded an equipment contract worth up to $110 million over five years to provide optical distribution frames and sub-racks that will connect NBN Co’s equipment to external cabling.The third equipment contract, worth $300 million over five years, was awarded to Prysmian, a global manufacturer of telecommunications cabling with manufacturing facilities in New South Wales.“Part of our purchasing strategy is to make a substantial up-front purchase commitment to encourage suppliers to invest in their Australian supply chain ramp-up as we head to volume rollout,” NBN co-chief executive officer Mike Quigley said.“They can invest with confidence in plant, equipment, recruitment and training to meet the needs of our national project.”
