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.

    • How Telstra proposes to cut noise on the NBN

    How Telstra proposes to cut noise on the NBN

    Telstra claims it has focused much of the engineering attention for its NBN proposal on mitigating noise and cross-talk between the node and customer premise.
    Ry Crozier Dec 5 2008 12:25PM Telco/ISP
    Inside Telstra's technical plans for the NBN

    Inside Telstra's technical plans for the NBN

    Telstra has given the first clear indications of its NBN proposal and the level of complexity that would be involved in the build, saying it would need to work 24x7 every day for five years to deliver the government’s planned network on time.
    Ry Crozier Dec 4 2008 4:26PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra’s new NBN conversation tool degenerates rapidly

    Telstra’s new NBN conversation tool degenerates rapidly

    Telstra have added a new mini-site to nowwearetalking to ‘encourage a conversation’ on the NBN – let’s hope it’s a bit more insightful than the first post, which blasts Aussie journalists, Singtel Optus and basically anyone within reach.
    Ry Crozier Dec 2 2008 4:27PM Telco/ISP
    40,000 servers, 20% of the world's traffic: Akamai ten years on

    40,000 servers, 20% of the world's traffic: Akamai ten years on

    Ten years since its creation, distributed computing platform Akamai now delivers 20 per cent of the world’s internet traffic by request. iTnews talks to Stuart Spiteri about high speed internet delivery around the world.
    Kathryn Small Dec 2 2008 1:27PM Telco/ISP
    Conroy to bidders: make the case for intervention

    Conroy to bidders: make the case for intervention

    The NBN expert panel will judge whether any of the proposals make a ‘compelling case’ for regulations to prevent network overbuild by Telstra or to require a full switchover of Telstra’s copper to the NBN, Broadband minister Stephen Conroy said yesterday.
    Staff Writers Dec 1 2008 12:45PM Telco/ISP
    Soft landing on competition? Dream on, says Telstra

    Soft landing on competition? Dream on, says Telstra

    Telstra chairman Donald McGauchie has accused some of the telco's rivals of wanting a ‘feather bed’ from the government when it comes to helping them compete in the market.
    Ry Crozier Dec 1 2008 12:45PM Telco/ISP
    Singtel Optus labelled ‘sub-prime’ bidder over $8bn funding gap

    Singtel Optus labelled ‘sub-prime’ bidder over $8bn funding gap

    Telstra has labelled the bid of its bitter NBN rival Singtel Optus as ‘sub-prime’, because the source of $8 billion of its funding is still unclear.
    Staff Writers Nov 28 2008 2:16PM Telco/ISP
    Is the Telstra submission a joke?

    Is the Telstra submission a joke?

    Broadband minister Stephen Conroy is talking tough that his government is ‘not going to be pushed around’ by Telstra on the issue of further concessions for the NBN build.
    Staff Writers Nov 28 2008 2:14PM Telco/ISP
    NBN ‘unlikely’ to deliver promised reach or speed: IBRS

    NBN ‘unlikely’ to deliver promised reach or speed: IBRS

    Analyst firm IBRS has criticised the Federal government over the National Broadband Network process, claiming it could ‘have been better managed’ and is unlikely to deliver what it promised.
    Staff Writers Nov 27 2008 4:03PM Telco/ISP
    NBN door remains open for Telstra

    NBN door remains open for Telstra

    Broadband Minister Stephen Conroy has asked voters to trust that the government's 98 percent coverage promise for the NBN will be delivered, despite the fact it will consider Telstra's lesser 90 percent proposal.
    Staff Writers Nov 27 2008 3:49PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra baits Government with NBN ‘detail’ carrot

    Telstra baits Government with NBN ‘detail’ carrot

    Telstra will hold the government to ransom by submitting a ‘proposal’ to build a $9.7 billion National Broadband Network but withholding more detailed bid documents.
    Staff Writers Nov 26 2008 1:27PM Telco/ISP
    Terria takes their NBN proposal on the road

    Terria takes their NBN proposal on the road

    Less than a week before the NBN bid deadline, Terria appears to be drumming up last-minute support for its proposal by taking the message to industry and community leaders in Tamworth in regional NSW.
    Ry Crozier Nov 20 2008 3:31PM Telco/ISP
    Axia to bid for slice of National Broadband Network

    Axia to bid for slice of National Broadband Network

    Canada’s Axia NetMedia Group has appeared to signal an intention to bid for the National Broadband Network (NBN), dependent on its ability to utilise ‘functional capital markets’.
    Staff Writers Nov 17 2008 2:58PM Telco/ISP
    No NBN without Telstra: Budde

    No NBN without Telstra: Budde

    Telstra cannot be cut out of National Broadband Network discussions even if Terria or Acacia were to win the tender, according to telco analyst Paul Budde.
    Ry Crozier Nov 5 2008 2:41PM Telco/ISP
    NBN public debate in Sydney misses the point

    NBN public debate in Sydney misses the point

    iiNet has imparted a blunt warning to both Terria and Telstra at today’s highly-anticipated debate, calling on both parties to drop historical and theoretical arguments and focus on the best interests of the customer.
    Ry Crozier Nov 5 2008 2:41PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra cans Terria debate

    Telstra cans Terria debate

    Telstra is at the centre of a new storm amid allegations that it pulled out of tomorrow’s NBN debate after a failed last-minute attempt to oust the Competitive Carriers Coalition (CCC) and Paul Budde from the Broadband World conference program.
    Ry Crozier Nov 4 2008 11:12AM Telco/ISP
    LIVE today: Terria and Havyatt head-to-head on NBN

    LIVE today: Terria and Havyatt head-to-head on NBN

    Updated reminder: LIVE coverage of the National Broadband Network and structural separation debates at Broadband World 2008 now starts here at 11.30AM AESDT. Join the discussion!
    Ry Crozier Nov 3 2008 4:36PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra stands ready to build NBN

    Telstra stands ready to build NBN

    Telstra has conducted ‘detailed planning’ and secured financing to build what they claim is ‘Australia’s most urgent and important infrastructure project’, but has stopped short of committing to actually bid for it.
    Staff Writers Oct 30 2008 2:52PM Telco/ISP
    Terria hit with two losses

    Terria hit with two losses

    NBN consortium Terria appears to be falling apart after TPG/Soul and TransAct announced their decision to withdraw from the consortium.

    Lilia Guan Oct 27 2008 2:44PM Telco/ISP
    Terria dances on Telstra’s NBN threats

    Terria dances on Telstra’s NBN threats

    Terria has jumped on threats by Telstra that it would not bid for the NBN if structural separation remains on the table, claiming its rival is only interested in 're-monopolising fixed line voice and Internet services in Australia'.
    Staff Writers Oct 25 2008 1:09PM Telco/ISP

    Log In

      |  Forgot your password?