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.

    • Satellite internet needs ground investment to be NBN-ready

    Satellite internet needs ground investment to be NBN-ready

    The Federal Government is being advised to consider investing in the ground segment of the IPSTAR broadband satellite network to fast-track its suitability for use by the 10 per cent of Aussies to miss out on NBN fibre.
    Ry Crozier Jun 11 2009 3:27PM Telco/ISP
    ISPs may be stranded by NBN, not just their assets

    ISPs may be stranded by NBN, not just their assets

    DSLAM assets stranded by the NBN could be the least of ISP’s problems with an Ovum analyst warning of a major shake-up in the transition to a new national network.
    Ry Crozier Jun 11 2009 3:25PM Telco/ISP
    Analysts: Industry needs more info on NBNCo

    Analysts: Industry needs more info on NBNCo

    The Government will need to provide far more information about the proposed structure of NBNCo if it wishes the private sector to vend assets into it, according to a note by Macquarie Equities.
    Brett Winterford Jun 11 2009 6:46AM Telco/ISP
    Amcom cautious of NBN role for fibre assets

    Amcom cautious of NBN role for fibre assets

    Amcom Telecom has held “very preliminary discussions” with Senator Conroy’s department around the NBN but is seeking further clarification before committing to vend in some of its dark fibre assets.
    Ry Crozier Jun 3 2009 11:28AM Telco/ISP
    Huawei eyes NBN as local sales climb

    Huawei eyes NBN as local sales climb

    Networking vendor Huawei racked up some $327 million in contract sales locally last year, fuelled in part by strong growth in wireless.
    Staff Writers May 28 2009 2:48PM Networking
    NBNCo can't count on AAPT fibre assets

    NBNCo can't count on AAPT fibre assets

    AAPT remains unconvinced of the benefits of vending some of its fibre assets into the National Broadband Network in return for an equity stake.
    Ry Crozier May 28 2009 2:44PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra offers ‘spare’ backhaul to stave off duplication

    Telstra offers ‘spare’ backhaul to stave off duplication

    Telstra has proposed a radical way to introduce price competition on monopoly backhaul transmission routes by having the Government buy ’spare’ capacity from them and resell it, effectively subsidising the incumbent’s access fees.
    Ry Crozier May 27 2009 12:31AM Telco/ISP
    OECD report highlights strengths and flaws in NBN plan

    OECD report highlights strengths and flaws in NBN plan

    iTnews weighs up the Rudd Government's NBN plan against the OECD's latest advice on how governments should invest in the construction of national broadband networks.
    Brett Winterford May 27 2009 12:09AM Telco/ISP
    Rudd to pay $11 billion of $43 billion NBN

    Rudd to pay $11 billion of $43 billion NBN

    Communications minister Stephen Conroy has told Senate Estimates hearings that the Government will sink around $11 billion into the National Broadband Network, which is anticipated to cost up to $43 billion in total.
    Ry Crozier May 26 2009 3:28PM Telco/ISP
    NBN plan sparks new facility for fibre specialists

    NBN plan sparks new facility for fibre specialists

    The announcement of a homegrown National Broadband Network (NBN) has spurred on local fibre optics company Warren and Brown to build a $4.1m R&D and distribution facility in Melbourne.
    Brett Winterford May 22 2009 2:25PM Telco/ISP
    ACCC hearts NBN, predicts end to Foxtel monopoly

    ACCC hearts NBN, predicts end to Foxtel monopoly

    ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel has given the Federal Government's National Broadband Network plan a big thumbs up, endorsing structural separation and predicting the end of Foxtel's dominance of Pay TV.
    Brett Winterford May 21 2009 6:05PM Telco/ISP
    NBN $43 billion cost has lots of padding

    NBN $43 billion cost has lots of padding

    Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has revealed the actual cost of the NBN is expected to be “significantly lower” than $43 billion, especially if industry players like Telstra trade their infrastructure for equity.
    Staff Writers May 19 2009 5:30PM Telco/ISP
    Minchin rebuked by Expert Panel 'whistleblowers'

    Minchin rebuked by Expert Panel 'whistleblowers'

    Opposition Senator Nick Minchin has dubbed members of the NBN Expert Panel 'whistleblowers', quoting controversial comments the panelists have made in public forums.
    Brett Winterford , Ben Grubb May 19 2009 5:30PM Telco/ISP
    Rudd to spend $16m training NBN engineers

    Rudd to spend $16m training NBN engineers

    The Rudd Government has announced it will invest $16.15 million in a training facility for networking engineering students at the Central Gippsland Institute of TAFE (GippsTAFE).
    Jenny Eagle May 19 2009 3:37PM Networking
    Optus calls for Telstra split by 2010

    Optus calls for Telstra split by 2010

    Optus has made a submission to the Federal Government's review of telecommunications regulation calling for Telstra to be structurally separated by 2010.
    Brett Winterford May 19 2009 3:09PM Telco/ISP
    Alcatel-Lucent appoints its own NBN voice

    Alcatel-Lucent appoints its own NBN voice

    Telecommunications equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent has promoted its former head of access network activity, John Turner, to lead an internal ‘NBN taskforce’.
    Ry Crozier May 18 2009 2:37PM Telco/ISP
    Minchin tries FOI to access NBN Expert Panel report

    Minchin tries FOI to access NBN Expert Panel report

    Opposition Senator Nick Minchin has submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request in an attempt to expose to the public both the Expert Panel report and accompanying ACCC report into the failed National Broadband Network tender.
    Brett Winterford May 18 2009 1:27PM Telco/ISP
    AusCERT09: Security will make or break NBN potential

    AusCERT09: Security will make or break NBN potential

    E-security is high on the Federal Government's agenda as it prepares for the country's digital future, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said at the region's largest security conference in the Gold Coast this morning.
    Negar Salek in the Gold Coast May 18 2009 11:52AM Security
    Farmers: dig your own trench for NBN access

    Farmers: dig your own trench for NBN access

    Telecommunications analysts say there may be one way to ensure regional Australians can connect to the fibre network that underlies the NBN - by digging their own trenches.
    Brett Winterford May 15 2009 3:08PM Telco/ISP
    Minchin passes motion to block NBN debate

    Minchin passes motion to block NBN debate

    Shadow communications minister Nick Minchin gave Senator Conroy until 6:50pm yesterday to make public the NBN Panel of Experts report and an associated report by the ACCC.
    Brett Winterford May 13 2009 4:42PM Telco/ISP

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