The Federal Government is looking at two vastly different models from bidders for its $4.7 billion National Broadband Network following Macquarie’s decision last week to join Telstra as an adviser.

According to reports in The Australian newspaper, Terria (the new brand of the group formerly known as the G9) wants the $4.7 billion funding to make the Federal Government a significant equity player in the broadband network.

Telstra’s proposition wants the Government contribution in the form of debt, rather than equity.

Terria chairman, former NSW treasurer Michael Egan said the company had also been in discussion with Macquarie Capital to be a potential partner in the project, but the talks fell through.

Mr Egan confirmed to The Australian that it was talking to a range of local and international about potential partnerships – both for advising on the bid and raising capital.

The total cost of the National Broadband Network – which is being driven through Senator Stephen Conroy’s Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy – is estimated by various analysts as likely to cost between A$9 billion and A$15 billion.

Mr Egan has also said that Terria would be speaking with some of the state-based bidders for the broadband network to see if there were areas where they could cooperate.