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 tenders are not secret: Conroy

    NBN tenders are not secret: Conroy

    Conroy denies 'secret' NBN tenders.
    Ben Grubb Dec 29 2009 8:37AM Telco/ISP
    Video: What will define 2010?

    Video: What will define 2010?

    IT industry leaders ponder what 2010 will have in store.
    Brett Winterford Dec 25 2009 9:54AM Strategy
    NBN Co adds more McKinsey alumni to board

    NBN Co adds more McKinsey alumni to board

    Three out of seven directors all hail from McKinsey and Co.
    Brett Winterford Dec 23 2009 1:11PM Telco/ISP
    UPDATE: Conroy releases draft laws for greenfield fibre rollouts

    UPDATE: Conroy releases draft laws for greenfield fibre rollouts

    Amongst a mass of pre-Christmas announcements.
    Brett Winterford Dec 23 2009 12:37PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to host a national product roadshow

    NBN Co to host a national product roadshow

    Kicks off in Sydney and Melbourne in January.
    Brett Winterford Dec 21 2009 1:36PM Telco/ISP
    Conroy to ISPs: Keep investing in DSLAMs

    Conroy to ISPs: Keep investing in DSLAMs

    Copper not extinct just yet.
    Ben Grubb Dec 21 2009 8:30AM Telco/ISP
    Filter pilot did not test high-speed internet

    Filter pilot did not test high-speed internet

    Will an ISP filter work in an NBN-connected world?
    Ben Grubb Dec 16 2009 1:23PM Telco/ISP
    NSW Education to trump Microsoft on Windows 7 use

    NSW Education to trump Microsoft on Windows 7 use

    Unboxing up to 2,800 Windows 7 devices a day.
    Ry Crozier Dec 11 2009 3:02PM Hardware
    Conroy, Rudd and Quigley feel the broadband Crunch

    Conroy, Rudd and Quigley feel the broadband Crunch

    Almost live from the Broadband Future forum in Sydney.
    Ben Grubb , Munir Kotadia Dec 11 2009 11:49AM Telco/ISP
    NBN to generate “utility-style” returns: Conroy

    NBN to generate “utility-style” returns: Conroy

    Commercial value of the asset.
    Ry Crozier Dec 11 2009 10:40AM Telco/ISP
    Grant calls on IT industry to widen the NBN scope

    Grant calls on IT industry to widen the NBN scope

    Time to start preaching to the masses.
    Ben Grubb Dec 11 2009 9:38AM Telco/ISP
    Video: NBN Co plans to "level the playing field"

    Video: NBN Co plans to "level the playing field"

    Quigley says industry structure is as important as the fibre network.
    Munir Kotadia Dec 10 2009 3:33PM Telco/ISP
    Rudd calls halt to broadband ‘rot’

    Rudd calls halt to broadband ‘rot’

    Broadband Future Forum hears of 18 plans abandoned over past 12 years.
    Ry Crozier Dec 10 2009 10:21AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co fleshes out network needs

    NBN Co fleshes out network needs

    Experienced candidates need only apply.
    Brett Winterford Dec 8 2009 1:54PM Networking
    Revealed: Telstra-NBN asset deal dangers

    Revealed: Telstra-NBN asset deal dangers

    Duct damage an unknown in negotiations.
    Ry Crozier Dec 8 2009 12:15PM Telco/ISP
    Corning Cable Systems awarded NBN fibre contract

    Corning Cable Systems awarded NBN fibre contract

    Connects three Tasmanian communities to FTTP.
    Ben Grubb Dec 8 2009 5:46AM Telco/ISP
    Ovum queries layer 3 outlook under NBN model

    Ovum queries layer 3 outlook under NBN model

    Seeks network layer scope creep assurances.
    Ry Crozier Dec 7 2009 12:38PM Networking
    NBN Co fires starting gun for network vendors

    NBN Co fires starting gun for network vendors

    Seeks 'capability statement' from GPON suppliers.
    Brett Winterford Dec 7 2009 6:37AM Networking
    iiNet, Internode, MacTel circling new backhaul links

    iiNet, Internode, MacTel circling new backhaul links

    Predicted capacity will be quickly soaked up.
    Ry Crozier Dec 4 2009 2:18PM Telco/ISP
    Nextgen wins $250m NBN backhaul project

    Nextgen wins $250m NBN backhaul project

    100 regional towns get high-speed ADSL in 18 months.
    Ry Crozier Dec 4 2009 12:58PM Telco/ISP

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