Telstra's decades-old copper network continues to "perform robustly", new NBN chairman Ziggy Switkowski says.
Dr Switkowski, who was Telstra chief executive for five years from 1999, says the copper network - the oldest part of which is 50 years old - is still working well.
"Here I default back to my own history ... It's constantly being maintained, remediated, upgraded," he told a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday.
However, he said he was relying on anecdotal information as he hadn't received any official information from Telstra recently.
"My feeling is that in 2013, the copper network fault rate may be higher than it was in the time I was at Telstra, but perhaps not materially higher," he said.
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"As best as I can tell, the copper network continues to perform robustly."
Dr Switkowski said the percentage of copper in Telstra's network that would not be suitable for fibre to the node (FTTN) remained "a question in front of us" that would be looked at in the current strategic reviews.
"It may well reveal whether there are unanticipated issues with the network," he said.
He said Telstra had millions of broadband customers using ADSL on copper, delivering speeds of up to 10 megabits a second.
"That suggests to me that the network is robust still and the concerns that are expressed that the network may not be the basis for the next generation of broadband platform, I think, are misinformed," he said.
Senator Kate Lundy said Mr Switkowski's comments mirrored those of Telstra in recent days.
"They're talking up their copper network like never before, given that they are currently in negotiations with NBN Co about accessing it," she said.
"I guess we would expect that from Telstra. I must say, I didn't expect it from you."
