Downer EDI wins NBN contract

Downer EDI has won a contract to roll out the NBN to 300,000 premises in Melbourne and Brisbane.

(AAP)

Engineering company Downer EDI has been contracted to roll out the national broadband network (NBN) to properties in Brisbane and Melbourne.

Downer EDI has won contracts with NBN Co to deliver fibre optic broadband to 300,000 premises across the two cities, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

Under the contracts, which will see up to 500 people employed, Downer will design and construct the local distribution network that runs fibre from a communications exchange through each street in a coverage area.

Downer already has contracts to roll out the network in northern New South Wales and to connect multi-dwelling units, such as blocks of flats, to the NBN in Victoria and NSW.

Meanwhile, NBN contractor Syntheo will pull out of work on the network early next year.

Syntheo, a joint venture between developer Lend Lease and communications company Service Stream, would complete work on existing contracts in Western Australia and South Australia, the company said in a statement.

But, it said, there'd be no further work beyond the completion of those contracts.