Telstra renews UXC maintenance contract

Secures two years of work, regardless of NBN Co deal.

Telstra has renewed a contract with ASX-listed UXC to manage the telco's aerial maintenance network throughout Australia.

The deal, won by UXC’s wholly-owned utility asset-management business unit was announced with contract renewals at two energy providers in Queensland and Western Australia.

In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange, UXC estimated the value of the three contract renewals to be about $40 million.

The scope of the Telstra deal included telephone pole inspection, reinforcement and relocation and other minor maintenance on the overhead assets of the telco.

The extension of the agreement, which dates back more than five years, gives UXC a guarantee of Telstra business through to July next year.

Telstra is negotiating a deal to lease its passive assets to NBN Co.

UXC managing director Cris Nicolli told CRN it may lead to work on NBN infrastructure.

"I don't know if anybody knows where they're going to put some of the NBN above ground cables at this point in time, though I suppose [the contract extension] positions us well from an inspection perspective,” he said.

“Clearly, it's an opportunity for us in the future if we continue to do a good job, given that [Telstra has] signed with us once again."

UXC recently hired NBN Co’s head of construction Patrick Flannigan, who quit within days of the Government-funded telco dumping a panel of construction suppliers.