Given our nation’s vast expanses, lack of competitive backbone services have been a significant problem for many years. Market evidence shows that, where there are no competitive backbone services, telecommunications costs are significantly higher and consumers and businesses have less choice and competition of services. For example, the Northern Territory and the Western Australian governments have stated that, where there is no competition, backbone costs are between 250 per cent and 700 per cent higher. Overall these links will deliver lower prices and greater choice in competition to around 400,000 people across regional Australia in over 100 different locations, and as Ken Fraser from South Gippsland— (Time expired)