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.

    • TransACT slams NBN’s shifting sands

    TransACT slams NBN’s shifting sands

    The chief executive of failed bidder TransACT is disappointed at being axed from the tender process, claiming a different proposal would’ve been submitted if the Government’s preference for FTTP was known at the start.
    Staff Writers Apr 7 2009 1:41PM Telco/ISP
    Internet industry welcomes NBN re-think

    Internet industry welcomes NBN re-think

    The Federal Government's National Broadband Network, announced today, has been widely welcomed by ISPs and ICT industry groups.
    Staff Writers Apr 7 2009 12:16PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra compensation risk cited for NBN RFP collapse

    Telstra compensation risk cited for NBN RFP collapse

    The liability of the Commonwealth or one of the private sector bidders to have to compensate Telstra for exclusive or near-exclusive access to its last mile sub-loop was a key reason for the collapse of the RFP, new documents reveal.
    Ry Crozier Apr 7 2009 11:12AM Telco/ISP
    Government goes it alone on NBN

    Government goes it alone on NBN

    The Australian Government will build its own $43 billion National Broadband Network, in a move that returns Australia's telecommunications economy to an era of part-public, part-private ownership.
    Ry Crozier , Brett Winterford Apr 7 2009 9:31AM Telco/ISP
    OptiComm FTTH rides first home buyers boom

    OptiComm FTTH rides first home buyers boom

    OptiComm wants five of Australia’s top ten ISPs offering retail services on its wholesale fibre network before the end of the year.
    Ry Crozier Apr 6 2009 2:46PM Telco/ISP
    Analysis: Five afterthoughts for the NBN debate

    Analysis: Five afterthoughts for the NBN debate

    Telstra or the courts are likely to have the final say on how quickly the NBN moves and how much market opportunity is left for the winner to exploit, a panel of experts has said.
    Ry Crozier Apr 2 2009 3:54PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra brings regional exchanges up to speed

    Telstra brings regional exchanges up to speed

    Telstra is one week into an upgrade of 421 regional exchanges to ADSL2+ and has also announced a $42 million investment in Next G base stations to be rolled out before the end of June.
    Ry Crozier Apr 1 2009 10:47AM Telco/ISP
    Conroy uses iiNet case to sidestep net filter issue

    Conroy uses iiNet case to sidestep net filter issue

    Broadband Minister Stephen Conroy has launched an extraordinary attack on iiNet’s legal defence in its piracy trial with the film and music industry, dubbing it “stunning” and “a classic”.
    Ry Crozier Mar 31 2009 11:38AM Telco/ISP
    NBN debate looks more like Opel discussion

    NBN debate looks more like Opel discussion

    The Government is losing focus on the NBN to the point where debate is starting to follow the same lines as the previous Government’s canned Opel project, according to the Australian Computer Society.
    Ry Crozier Mar 19 2009 2:43PM Telco/ISP
    Ericsson pushes VDSL2 data transfers above 500Mbps

    Ericsson pushes VDSL2 data transfers above 500Mbps

    Ericsson has achieved data transfer rates of more than 500Mbps in what it said is the world's first live demonstration of a new VDSL2-based technology.
    Brett Winterford Mar 17 2009 2:57PM Networking
    Give us time to make NBN decision, says Government

    Give us time to make NBN decision, says Government

    Broadband Minister Stephen Conroy won’t be coerced into fast-tracking a decision on the NBN, more or less telling delegates of the ATUG conference in Sydney today to give the Government the time required to make the right decision.
    Brett Winterford Mar 13 2009 3:21PM Telco/ISP
    Liberal Senator has 'no confidence' in the NBN

    Liberal Senator has 'no confidence' in the NBN

    Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia Ian MacDonald has lashed out at the Government over its broadband strategy, saying he has 'no confidence' in Minister Conroy's capacity to deliver Australia a National Broadband Network.
    Staff Writers Mar 12 2009 11:28AM Telco/ISP
    Budde: Farewell Sol, Telstra's liability

    Budde: Farewell Sol, Telstra's liability

    Telstra CEO Sol Trujillo and Chairman Don McGauchie are "liabilities" in terms of the carrier's potential, according to a new research note by telecommunications analyst Paul Budde.
    Brett Winterford Mar 10 2009 2:52PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra upgrading to 100Mbps cable in Melbourne

    Telstra upgrading to 100Mbps cable in Melbourne

    Telstra has shrugged off its exclusion from the National Broadband Network to invest $300 million upgrading its cable network.
    Brett Winterford Mar 10 2009 12:33PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra’s NBN exclusion lacks global precedent: analyst

    Telstra’s NBN exclusion lacks global precedent: analyst

    An economic analyst from Germany’s WIK Institute has said it would be both unfortunate and unusual for the Government to continue Telstra’s exclusion from the NBN process.
    Ry Crozier Mar 5 2009 3:20PM Telco/ISP
    Senate committee told Telstra Wholesale crash cut off Primus

    Senate committee told Telstra Wholesale crash cut off Primus

    ISP Primus was unable to provision new broadband customers for nearly two days late last month, after the Telstra Wholesale provisioning system it relies on to connect customers crashed without explanation.
    Brett Winterford Mar 4 2009 12:15PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra offers handy NBN tips to the Government

    Telstra offers handy NBN tips to the Government

    The Federal Government has very few remaining viable options left to meet its requirements for a national broadband network, according to Telstra's head of public policy, David Quilty.
    Brett Winterford Mar 4 2009 5:58AM Telco/ISP
    Expert advocates new regulator for NBN

    Expert advocates new regulator for NBN

    One of Australia's pre-eminent telecommunications experts today recommended the Federal Government consider forming a new regulator charged exclusively with arbitrating access issues for the proposed National Broadband Network.
    Brett Winterford Mar 3 2009 2:28PM Telco/ISP
    Pacnet still eyeing off local telco buy

    Pacnet still eyeing off local telco buy

    Cashed-up wholesale telecommunications supplier Pacnet is interested in building a bigger presence in Australia via acquisition, according to CEO William 'Bill' Barney.
    Brett Winterford Mar 3 2009 6:11AM Telco/ISP
    Survey shows caution over wireless broadband

    Survey shows caution over wireless broadband

    Australian Internet users are growing more realistic about the limits of mobile broadband, according to this year's annual survey of Internet enthusiasts at Whirlpool.
    Brett Winterford Mar 2 2009 2:53PM Telco/ISP

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