Optus is expected to soon become the provider of Coles' internet services over the NBN.
The NBN Co is hoping to make $1 billion a year by 2022 in enterprise revenue and has been looking to do deals with larger companies through telco partners acting as a wholesaler.
A deal with $16.8 billion supermarket giant Coles - Australia's second largest behind Woolworths Group - is considered to be a substantial"vote of confidence"in the NBN,said a source with knowledge of the deal.
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The economics of the taxpayer-funded NBN have faced furious criticism from telcos and Labor over its pricing model,potential to ensure future revenues don't fall short of expectations,and the quality of its services.
The push for name brand customers from the NBN Co is expected to help level the playing field for telcos by giving them the opportunity to secure contracts with big businesses that would have historically been supplied by Telstra.
The NBN Co declined to comment on any negotiations underway,but a spokeswoman said building a nationwide wholesale network"allows us to deliver more choice to the market and the ability to provide business-grade services,which retailers can tailor to the needs of their customers".
She said that,alongside retail partners,the NBN was"currently in discussions with some of Australia's largest enterprises to deliver services over the NBN access network".