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.

    • Senate Committee Report: Dump the NBN

    Senate Committee Report: Dump the NBN

    Not exactly a consensus view.
    Ry Crozier May 19 2010 10:15AM Telco/ISP
    Economists, analysts dispute NBN study numbers

    Economists, analysts dispute NBN study numbers

    Were the authors too optimistic in their assumptions?
    Liz Tay , Brett Winterford May 19 2010 3:37AM Telco/ISP
    Nextgen digs WA and NSW regional backhaul links

    Nextgen digs WA and NSW regional backhaul links

    One-eighth of Backbone Blackspots Project completed in three months.
    Tanya Hall May 17 2010 11:25AM Networking
    NBN Co selects first release network designers

    NBN Co selects first release network designers

    Network design and deployment trial begins.
    Liz Tay May 14 2010 6:38AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Committee gets stay of execution

    NBN Committee gets stay of execution

    Five more weeks to consider the implementation study.
    Ry Crozier May 13 2010 11:02AM Telco/ISP
    Sydney Uni demonstrates Tbps internet

    Sydney Uni demonstrates Tbps internet

    Chip avoids electrical-optical conversion.
    Liz Tay May 10 2010 4:24PM Telco/ISP
    Coalition bags NBN Study despite telco support

    Coalition bags NBN Study despite telco support

    Time to ditch Telstra negotiations?
    Ry Crozier May 6 2010 6:07PM Telco/ISP
    Study: Penalties for those that compete with NBN Co

    Study: Penalties for those that compete with NBN Co

    Overbuild at your peril.
    Ry Crozier May 6 2010 6:00PM Telco/ISP
    Study: More fibre, less retail cost, for rural NBN users

    Study: More fibre, less retail cost, for rural NBN users

    Implementation report recommends wider coverage.
    Liz Tay May 6 2010 5:02PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co: Prepare to build $3.5bn backhaul network

    NBN Co: Prepare to build $3.5bn backhaul network

    But lease where you can, says NBN Implementation Study.
    Ry Crozier May 6 2010 4:03PM Networking
    Government claims NBN will pay itself off

    Government claims NBN will pay itself off

    NBN Implementation Study calls network a government "investment".
    Brett Winterford May 6 2010 2:30PM Telco/ISP
    Tight controls on NBN implementation study release

    Tight controls on NBN implementation study release

    Phones, cameras, laptop dongles and recording devices banned.
    Staff Writers May 6 2010 10:43AM Telco/ISP
    Analysis: Council NBN testers raise the cost of rushing

    Analysis: Council NBN testers raise the cost of rushing

    Fast phase one rollout adds up.
    Ry Crozier Apr 30 2010 6:00AM Telco/ISP
    Government savages Liberal plans to scrap the NBN

    Government savages Liberal plans to scrap the NBN

    Abbott says NBN is "first to go" if Coalition returns to office.
    Stuart Finlayson Apr 29 2010 12:03PM Telco/ISP
    Greens: Don't sell or strangle the NBN

    Greens: Don't sell or strangle the NBN

    Election cycle impacts on telco debate.
    Ry Crozier Apr 21 2010 1:21PM Telco/ISP
    Government urged to invest in copyright registry

    Government urged to invest in copyright registry

    Academic calls for a "National Content Network" alongside the NBN.
    Tanya Hall Apr 21 2010 11:35AM Software
    Coalition pledges to upgrade old networks

    Coalition pledges to upgrade old networks

    Intermediate step but "not the end game".
    Ry Crozier Apr 21 2010 9:52AM Telco/ISP
    NBN investment should be split up, says Pipe

    NBN investment should be split up, says Pipe

    Roll out regionally for social benefits, not commercial returns.
    Ry Crozier Apr 20 2010 2:36PM Telco/ISP
    Conroy touts benefits of releasing NBN study

    Conroy touts benefits of releasing NBN study

    ... without releasing it.
    Ry Crozier Apr 20 2010 1:21PM Telco/ISP
    Quigley: Why an all-wireless NBN is pointless

    Quigley: Why an all-wireless NBN is pointless

    Commercial return a hot topic.
    Ry Crozier Apr 20 2010 12:13PM Telco/ISP

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