Telecommunications Infrastructure Construction in Australia - Industry Market Research Report

Bad connection: Revenue has declined continuously as the NBN rollout nears completion

Technological advances and growing demand from households and businesses for voice and data telecommunications drive the Telecommunications Infrastructure Construction industry. The Federal Government's commitment to constructing the NBN network, which is Australia's largest infrastructure project, has underpinned demand for infrastructure construction. The industry has also derived substantial stimulus from major telecommunications carriers rolling out their 4G mobile telecommunications networks. However, NBN network construction is now receiving less government stimulus, as carriers largely focus on upgrading existing networks. Construction firms have been forced to close locations, consolidate or downsize in the wake of waning demand from the NBN project, causing enterprise, establishment and employment numbers to fall. Profit margins have also struggled because of higher input prices; the COVID-19 outbreak caused supply chain disruptions, which made it more difficult and expensive to procure key materials for infrastructure construction activity. Revenue is expected to fall at an annualised 8.7% to $7.4 billion over the five years through 2023-24, partly because fewer firms are receiving contracts related to NBN network construction. This trend includes a climb of 0.3% in the current year, as work on wireless transmission stations for new 5G mobile networks is supporting modest revenue recovery.

Industry companies primarily construct telecommunications infrastructure, excluding maintenance and repair services. This infrastructure includes wireless transmission towers and base stations for mobile phone, radio, television, microwave and radar transmission. The industry also builds wired telecommunications infrastructure for telephony and data transmission using copper, coaxial and fibre-optic cables.

This report covers the scope, size, disposition and growth of the industry including the key sensitivities and success factors. Also included are five year industry forecasts, growth rates and an analysis of the industry's key players and their market shares.