The project, in motion since February 2010, will comprise both tailored and off-the-shelf packages that will fit over multiple environments to suit NBN Co's suite of fibre, fixed wireless and satellite wholesale products as part of the National Broadband Network (NBN).

The company is ramping up for a fast implementation once the tender process has been completed, with up to 400 people from both NBN Co and eligible panellists deploying the majority of required systems before full wholesale prices are implemented on 1 July this year. A full deployment is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

"This is going to be a very fast put it on the ground compared to most software projects," NBN Co head of corporate services and procurement, Kevin Brown, told

As part of the deploy, ment, some interim systems already in use by the company will be scaled up to suit increased demand from mainland NBN customers.

Brown confirmed that the company has also been in negotiations with Alcatel-Lucent to provide and install Comptel operations support systems (OSS) as part of the project.