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 $2 billion equity source under question

    NBN $2 billion equity source under question

    Hole in funding allocation for next-generation network.
    Ry Crozier May 26 2010 4:49PM Financial Services
    Google audits systems in wake of wardriving scandal

    Google audits systems in wake of wardriving scandal

    High-definition Street View update on hold.
    Nate Cochrane May 25 2010 3:37PM Software
    Jim Hassell joins NBN Co

    Jim Hassell joins NBN Co

    Product development and sales role.
    Staff Writers May 24 2010 6:47PM Telco/ISP
    NSW mulls fibre for public housing

    NSW mulls fibre for public housing

    Multi-dwelling units in the spotlight.
    Ry Crozier May 24 2010 2:13PM Telco/ISP
    Vic Govt report: Huge, unsated appetite for fast broadband

    Vic Govt report: Huge, unsated appetite for fast broadband

    Access report finds 220,000 Victorians want speeds of over 50 Mbps.
    Ry Crozier May 24 2010 1:15PM Telco/ISP
    Greens, carriers, question NBN privatisation

    Greens, carriers, question NBN privatisation

    Recommend safeguards be established.
    Staff Writers May 21 2010 2:50PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co signs up to Metro Ethernet Forum

    NBN Co signs up to Metro Ethernet Forum

    To build to international standards.
    Liz Tay May 21 2010 12:47AM Telco/ISP
    Thodey: Telstra has sold 10,000 T-Hubs

    Thodey: Telstra has sold 10,000 T-Hubs

    Thodey comments on NBN, HFC, Next G and 4G.
    Brett Winterford May 19 2010 2:37PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra must take part in 4G spectrum auction

    Telstra must take part in 4G spectrum auction

    Poised to call Government bluff.
    Tanya Hall May 19 2010 10:54AM Telco/ISP
    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

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