The Broadband Industry Training Network, a newly formed group, will convene in Melbourne tomorrow to address the lack of skilled technicians needed to construct the national broadband network.

NBN Co announced it would continue ''full steam ahead'' with Australia's largest infrastructure project, despite the Coalition's pledge to discard the plan if it wins the August 21 poll.

Head of construction Patrick Flannigan said NBN would need about 15,000 to 20,000 skilled workers at peak construction.

According to him, uncertainty about the project's future in the election period was not affecting the rollout timetable, and NBN Co would send out tender requests in the coming weeks.

''Elections will come and go, as we know, and we have a job to do for our shareholders, so we are pretty much full steam ahead,'' he said, referring to the finance and communications ministers as NBN's two shareholders.

Communication and Information Technology Training industry manager Cherry Cole said NBN may have a body and a skills shortage if they do not take action, pointing out that the median age of technicians in the industry was 47.

She said the meeting would pool the key groups that are going to be involved in the building of the national broadband network. Around 13 representatives from various construction and training companies already involved with NBN Co were expected to attend. A second forum would follow in Sydney next week.

Telstra chief David Thodey said the telco giant would act appropriately to any change in NBN Co's project.

"Our position is, as they make their decisions, we'll make an appropriate response as a commercial organisation," he said.