Deutsche Telekom has expressed interest in setting up a high-speed glass fiber network in Australia, a Financial Times report said.
The Financial Times report, quoting local media, said the company could form part of a consortium that would bid for the contract.
The Australian government is currently setting out the financial conditions for the construction of the network; once this has been decided, bidders for the contract will have 17 weeks in which to present specific plans, the report said.
The report said a consortium including the Australian subsidiary of SingTel could also be interested, as could Telstra, Australia's former telecoms monopoly. It is estimated that the project will cost several billion Australian dollars.
Deutsche Telekom is said to be seeking the support of financial partners and to be hoping to set up a public-private partnership, it added.