Latest press releases and articles

30 April 2010

Basslink resumes full service

Following the recent reported outage of the Basslink interconnector on Saturday 17 April, Basslink returned to full operational service on Monday 26 April at 6:24pm.download file

21 April 2010

Basslink outage

The Basslink interconnector was taken out of service following a problem in the valve hall at the George Town Converter Station in Tasmania on Saturday 17 April. download file

7 July 2009

Basslink Telecoms carries its first broadband traffic to Tasmania

Basslink Telecoms is delighted to announce that traffic is flowing on the Melbourne-Hobart fibre optic link, following an extensive testing and commissioning process completed in recent days. download file (64k)

3 June 2009

Media Statement Clarifying Events of Jan 09
During the period 28‐30 January 2009, record high temperatures were recorded in Victoria and Tasmania, resulting in high electricity demands in Victoria and South Australia on the 29th and 30th January 2009.
download file (84k)

30 March 2009

Internode signs up as Basslink’s first ISP customer
National broadband company Internode has signed an agreement to use the new Basslink fibre-optic cable to significantly increase its data backhaul capacity between Tasmania and the mainland.
download file (144k)

29 January 2009

Contrary to media reports Basslink did not ‘trip’ or fail during yesterday’s extreme heat.
Basslink is operating as per design and protectively blocks when ambient temperatures climb above the limits of its design specifications.
download file (68k)

24 November 2008

Ericsson selected as transmission solution provider for Basslink fibre-optic cable
Basslink Telecoms today announced it has selected Ericsson Australia to provide the fibre optic transmission solution for the Basslink Interconnector cable to supply telecommunications services between Tasmania and the Australian mainland.
download file (56k)

12 November 2008

Basslink Telecoms open for business – nearing completion of first commercial contracts
Michael Coates appointed GM Telecoms at Basslink
download file (56k)

10 November 2008

Bass Strait agreement delivers broadband competition to Tasmania
Aurora Energy and Basslink have today signed a contract under which they will each deliver nationally competitive broadband services to Tasmania.
download file (56k)

15 May 2008

BASSLINK COMMITTED TO PROVIDING BROADBAND CHOICE IN
TASMANIA
In recent months, Basslink has been involved in very constructive discussions
with the Tasmanian Government and Aurora regarding the future use of the fibre optic component of the Basslink interconnector. These discussions are continuing in earnest.

When the Basslink interconnector was built, a fibre optic component was added
with a view to making some of this available to bolster Tasmania’s broadband
capacity and increase competition for provision of broadband. This investment
was made entirely by the previous owner of Basslink, National Grid, and the
asset was subsequently purchased by CitySpring.

Basslink Telecoms has today been granted a telecom carrier licence by the
Australian Communications and Media Authority. This comes as part of the
commitment to using the fibre optic capacity to bring competition to the wholesale telecommunications and internet markets in Tasmania.

In the eight months since the purchase of Basslink, we have actively negotiated
access to capacity in Victoria, managed a comprehensive procurement
programme to select a vendor to light our network from Melbourne through to the regional centres of Tasmania, recruited specific commercial and technical
management support and engaged actively with prospective wholesale
customers.

Having completed this planning and implementation work, Basslink now stands
ready, subject to Board approval, to make the multi million dollar investment,
which will be necessary to light its fibre and commence commercial operations
before the end of this year.

After several months of constructive work and engagement with the Tasmanian
Government and with Aurora, we are optimistic of being able to reach an
agreement, and ultimately to provide choice to broadband users in the State.
We understand and embrace the Government’s target of achieving genuine price competition for broadband services in Tasmania and remain confident this can be delivered.
-Ends-

For further media information, please contact Matthew Mahon, Royce (03) 9639 2300 or 0413 101 860.