''[Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull] has even said that at some point we'll look at whether or not it goes from public hands back to private,'' Mr Morrow said. ''In a way [leaseback facilities] are a form of it.''

But Mr Morrow also said the concept was not being actively considered by NBN Co's board. The priority was still construction.

''I've done sale and leasebacks before on towers and other major infrastructure and usually you have to have a big enough pool with a steady enough revenue stream coming into it to have anybody be interested in the capital purchase,'' he said.

''I don't think right now, as we're in a piecemeal fashion, it would work that way, but it's something we should consider once we get things further built out.''

Asked if NBN Co would consider outsourcing call centres and back office jobs to low-cost locations overseas, Mr Morrow said it was an option he would keep open.