Election 2013: Broadband Election 2013: Broadband

Of all the election issues watched by the tech sector, the national broadband network has enlivened the most debate.

The Coalition released its broadband policy ahead of many of its other policies, promising to deliver a fibre-to-the-node network for 25 percent less than Labor’s $44.1 billion fibre-to-the-home network.

Here’s how the policies stack up:

Labor

  • $44.1 billion fibre to the home network (to be delivered by June 2021), with 97 percent fibre coverage and the remainder a mix of satellite and fixed wireless.
  • Network to deliver download speeds of up to 1 Gbps and upload speeds of 400 Mbps, depending on the plan purchased.
  • Wholesale pricing structure fixed, with NBN Co remaining the monopoly provider.
  • Wholesale price capped at $24 per month for 12 Mbps download/1 Mbps upload speed, frozen for five years, and subsequent increases limited to less than the price of inflation.

    • Coalition

  • $29.5 billion mostly fibre-to-the-node premises (to be delivered by June 2015), with 71 percent FTTN and 22 percent FTTP on greenfields sites, and the remainder a mix of satellite and fixed wireless.
  • Network to deliver download speeds of up to 50 Mbps for the FTTN connections and 1 Gbps for FTTP connections. Upload speeds for FTTN connections of up to 10 Mbps and 400 Mbps for FTTP connections.
  • Wholesale pricing structure capped by the ACCC, with competing broadband access networks allowed.
  • Wholesale price forecast to be $38 per month in 2021, with a user pays policy for those wishing to connect the ‘last mile’ to their home with fibre.

    • Greens

  • Support Labor’s NBN policy.
  • Amended policy to ensure any future moves to privatise the NBN would be subject to a review to protect the public interest, requiring the approval of Parliament.

    • NBN obsoletes a million security systems: ASIAL

    NBN obsoletes a million security systems: ASIAL

    Industry fears broadband upgrade neither alarms nor alerts Australians.
    Nate Cochrane Sep 13 2010 1:18PM Security
    NBN priority not promised to independents: Conroy

    NBN priority not promised to independents: Conroy

    Regional rollout re-jig.
    Ry Crozier Sep 9 2010 6:57AM Telco/ISP
    Conroy to rejig NBN rollout schedule

    Conroy to rejig NBN rollout schedule

    Priority fibre for regional areas.
    Ry Crozier Sep 8 2010 1:38PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co back in business

    NBN Co back in business

    Gillard, Coalition, Greens have their say.
    Liz Tay , Ry Crozier Sep 7 2010 6:22PM Telco/ISP
    Katter swings to Coalition

    Katter swings to Coalition

    Announcement catches Australia off-guard.
    Ry Crozier Sep 7 2010 2:19PM Strategy
    Katter pays tribute to the "no vote" NBN

    Katter pays tribute to the "no vote" NBN

    Project was "great" for Australians.
    Ry Crozier Sep 7 2010 6:42AM Telco/ISP
    Consensus evaporates on NBN model

    Consensus evaporates on NBN model

    Are we back to Square One?
    Ry Crozier Sep 6 2010 6:00AM Telco/ISP
    Treasury claims $900m Coalition NBN shortfall

    Treasury claims $900m Coalition NBN shortfall

    Difference of opinion.
    Ry Crozier Sep 2 2010 2:07PM Telco/ISP
    NBN3 Wireless plan needs 4G spectrum fast-track

    NBN3 Wireless plan needs 4G spectrum fast-track

    Dark fibre and wireless coalition issues new proposal.
    Ry Crozier Sep 1 2010 12:58PM Telco/ISP
    NBN to survive but not intact: Budde

    NBN to survive but not intact: Budde

    Analyst urges Coalition to re-state its broadband policy.
    Staff Writers Aug 30 2010 5:39PM Telco/ISP
    Tasmania seeks to bolster mobile app industry

    Tasmania seeks to bolster mobile app industry

    Premier meets with Apple Australia exec.
    Liz Tay Aug 30 2010 2:09PM Software
    Windsor challenges Gillard on NBN price tag

    Windsor challenges Gillard on NBN price tag

    Independents want NBN costs broken down into bite-sized pieces.
    Matthew Sadler Aug 25 2010 4:22PM Telco/ISP
    Analysis: Did the NBN rollout plan win seats?

    Analysis: Did the NBN rollout plan win seats?

    Yes in Tassie, a resounding no on the mainland.
    Brett Winterford Aug 23 2010 2:06PM Networking
    Election outcome to favour bush broadband

    Election outcome to favour bush broadband

    Independents are NBN believers.
    Brett Winterford Aug 22 2010 4:28PM Networking
    iiNet brings terabyte broadband plan to NBN

    iiNet brings terabyte broadband plan to NBN

    Temporary speed boost to 100 Mbps.
    Ry Crozier Aug 20 2010 3:19PM Telco/ISP
    AAPT to push ahead with fibre network upgrade

    AAPT to push ahead with fibre network upgrade

    Prepares for the "NBN world".
    Ry Crozier Aug 20 2010 11:36AM Telco/ISP
    IIA throws support behind NBN

    IIA throws support behind NBN

    Weighs in on “Broadband Election”.
    Liz Tay Aug 19 2010 3:41PM Telco/ISP
    Democrats leave IT policy to the wire

    Democrats leave IT policy to the wire

    No time for more than a brief outline.
    Ry Crozier Aug 19 2010 12:20PM Telco/ISP
    Tasmanian NBN 10 percent under budget: Conroy

    Tasmanian NBN 10 percent under budget: Conroy

    Comms Ministers duke it out in TV debate.
    Ry Crozier Aug 19 2010 7:26AM Telco/ISP
    Quigley's big stand: the full speech

    Quigley's big stand: the full speech

    Quigley wins over the true believers.
    Staff Writers Aug 18 2010 2:21PM Telco/ISP

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