The deal, should it receive a tick from Telstra shareholders next year, will grant National Broadband Network (NBN) wholesaler NBN Co access to Telstra's network pits and the "right" to its backhaul fibre.

iiNet managing director, Michael Malone, said the NBN could not be built without access to Telstra's backhaul.

"The NBN Co wants to be the single provider to all locations but only Telstra has backhaul to all regions," Malone said.

"It would use its own backhaul where there is no competition, and would certainly look to competitors in metropolitan areas, especially where there is dark fibre available.

"The only change to us is from an exchange to a house -- the rest is evolutionary -- and we are not being asked to rip out our network."