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.

    • 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
    Internode launches FTTH speed offensive in greenfield estates

    Internode launches FTTH speed offensive in greenfield estates

    Internode will deliver 100Mbps retail fibre-to-the-home services over the OptiComm network to around a dozen 'greenfield' suburbs nationwide.
    Staff Writers Feb 25 2009 3:04PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra seeks import gains from China tech platforms

    Telstra seeks import gains from China tech platforms

    Telstra may use the technology underpinning two Chinese mobile and online content businesses it acquired $302m controlling stakes in today to help scale up local operations at lower per-unit costs, chief executive Sol Trujillo said.
    Ry Crozier Feb 11 2009 3:14PM Telco/ISP
    $42 billion stimulus package doesn’t impress ACS

    $42 billion stimulus package doesn’t impress ACS

    Overnight approval of the Federal government’s latest economic stimulus package has failed to win Australian Computer Society (ACS) support with the peak body accusing the government of “failing to recognise the potential of the ICT industry”.
    Staff Writers Feb 5 2009 3:06PM Financial Services
    Government confirms “ambition” to sign NBN contract by March

    Government confirms “ambition” to sign NBN contract by March

    Opposition communications spokesman Nick Minchin has derided the government’s lack of “openness and transparency” on the NBN, as it continues to shield the results of the expert panel’s report from the public.
    Staff Writers Feb 4 2009 3:57PM Telco/ISP
    NBN final report in, but government is gagged

    NBN final report in, but government is gagged

    The Federal Government will get its first detailed look at the NBN proposals on the table after the 'expert panel' handed over its final report today.
    Staff Writers Jan 22 2009 1:38PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra takes aim at NBN winner despite lost billions

    Telstra takes aim at NBN winner despite lost billions

    Telstra has claimed that between $1 and $2 billion in annual revenues may be at risk after its exclusion from the NBN process but that it is already in a ‘good competitive position’ to take on the successful bidder.
    Staff Writers Jan 8 2009 5:14PM Telco/ISP
    Self-regulation failure forces Conroy to lay down NBN law

    Self-regulation failure forces Conroy to lay down NBN law

    Federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has criticised the Australian telecommunications sector for its inability to ‘cooperate, have a discussion or reach a common position’ on the NBN – or anything else of importance.
    Ry Crozier Dec 18 2008 10:01AM Telco/ISP
    Conroy cans Telstra wireless broadband threats

    Conroy cans Telstra wireless broadband threats

    Broadband Minister Stephen Conroy has dismissed the threat of a wireless broadband network from Telstra competing with the NBN on level speed terms because ‘the laws of physics say that’s not right’.
    Staff Writers Dec 16 2008 11:44AM Telco/ISP
    Telstra ‘excluded itself’ from NBN: Conroy

    Telstra ‘excluded itself’ from NBN: Conroy

    Broadband Minister Stephen Conroy has officially shut the gate on Telstra’s NBN proposal, saying the incumbent ‘excluded itself’ by failing to submit ‘one of five mandatory requirements of the RFP’.
    Staff Writers Dec 15 2008 2:38PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra kicked out of NBN by Federal government

    Telstra kicked out of NBN by Federal government

    Telstra’s controversial NBN ‘proposal’ has been formally excluded from the RFP process by the Federal Government in a sensational development that has fuelled speculation on whether or not the incumbent will be given a lifeline to bid.
    Ry Crozier Dec 15 2008 10:42AM Telco/ISP
    21Mbps Next G network no substitute for an NBN: Telstra

    21Mbps Next G network no substitute for an NBN: Telstra

    Telstra’s Next G network might be surpassing the National Broadband Network minimum downlink speed of 12Mbps, but that doesn’t mean Telstra is using it to bypass the NBN process.
    Ry Crozier Dec 8 2008 4:02PM Telco/ISP

    Log In

      |  Forgot your password?