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NBN approaches a milestone

There’s nothing particularly surprising about the fact the NBN Co is heading for its maiden positive full-year profit, at least on the earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation line.

Steadily rising subscriber numbers and steadily falling compensation payments to the big telcos were always going to push the business into the black.

Nevertheless, the sharp turnaround delivered by chief executive Stephen Rue in the six months to December 31 – a positive EBITDA of $424 million, compared with negative EBITDA of $663 million for the same period last year – is a symbol of NBN Co’s progress and growing scale.

Rue says the business is on track for positive EBIDTA for the full year.