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.

    • Industry Group calls for NBN pricing and access regime

    Industry Group calls for NBN pricing and access regime

    The Australian Industry Group has called on both the federal Government and industry to get pricing and access regimes for the national broadband network right the first time in order to derive maximum economic benefit.
    Staff Writers Oct 21 2008 1:42PM Telco/ISP
    NBN ‘critical’ to resolving State backhaul complaints

    NBN ‘critical’ to resolving State backhaul complaints

    Two state government submissions to the regional telecommunications review led to the finding of ‘inadequate’ backhaul availability in regional Australia, the committee chair has revealed.
    Ry Crozier Oct 18 2008 10:00AM Telco/ISP
    Terria confirms NBN bid without telco AAPT

    Terria confirms NBN bid without telco AAPT

    Terria has confirmed it will continue its bid for the national broadband network, despite AAPT’s withdrawal from the consortium today.
    Staff Writers Oct 16 2008 11:37AM Telco/ISP
    Telstra hammers ‘ramshackle’ Terria over funding

    Telstra hammers ‘ramshackle’ Terria over funding

    Telstra has come out swinging at the Terria consortium claiming it has no assets, money, plan or ‘intention of ever participating in the construction process for the National Broadband Network’.
    Staff Writers Oct 15 2008 5:10PM Telco/ISP
    NBN costs go down, not up

    NBN costs go down, not up

    Federal broadband minister Stephen Conroy has weighed in on suggestions of a cost blow-out for the National Broadband Network (NBN), suggesting the cost may in fact be lower than first thought.
    Ry Crozier Oct 15 2008 3:45PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra tells Rudd: We need high-speed broadband

    Telstra tells Rudd: We need high-speed broadband

    Telstra has told PM Rudd that high-speed broadband must be the first cab off the rank. But on whose terms?
    Staff Writers Oct 3 2008 1:32PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra rebuffs R&D criticism

    Telstra rebuffs R&D criticism

    Telstra’s chief technology officer Hugh Bradlow today responded to NICTA CEO David Skellern’s comments that Telstra was 'a disgrace' to the state of research and development in Australia.
    Kathryn Small Sep 24 2008 3:43PM Strategy
    Telstra slams Optus for cancelling Fusion wireless broadband

    Telstra slams Optus for cancelling Fusion wireless broadband

    Telstra slammed Optus as 'a disaster' after Australia’s number two carrier cancelled its popular Fusion wireless broadband service.
    Kathryn Small Sep 18 2008 5:39PM Telco/ISP
    Opinion: The monopoly we had to have

    Opinion: The monopoly we had to have

    News that the Terria consortium wants the NBN to be a separate entity owned by "we the people" is being construed by Telstra as nothing more than sour grapes because Terria isn’t going to get the gig.
    Ian Yates Sep 11 2008 7:45AM Telco/ISP
    Open hostility between Telstra and Terria over NBN

    Open hostility between Telstra and Terria over NBN

    Former Premier Bob Carr and his former treasurer Michael Egan have weighed in on opposite sides of Telstra and Terria's NBN war.
    Kathryn Small Sep 9 2008 5:35PM Telco/ISP
    NBN rivals want us out, says Telstra

    NBN rivals want us out, says Telstra

    Telstra has accused its rivals of talking up the issue of its separation to eliminate the telco from participating in the national broadband network.
    Staff Writers Sep 5 2008 7:50PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra calls separation a 'fool's gold' debate

    Telstra calls separation a 'fool's gold' debate

    Telstra has used Senator Stephen Conroy's announcement of the closing date for proposals to build the National Broadband Network (NBN) to reiterate the telco’s opposition to separation.
    Staff Writers Sep 4 2008 6:49AM Telco/ISP
    NBN: Telstra tells Terria to get real or get out

    NBN: Telstra tells Terria to get real or get out

    Australian telecommunications incumbent, Telstra has fired off a warning to Terria to get serious about building a National Broadband Network (NBN), or get out of the way.
    Lilia Guan Aug 27 2008 10:25AM Telco/ISP
    SMS looks to NBN, core banking for growth

    SMS looks to NBN, core banking for growth

    SMS Management & Technology is looking to the National Broadband Network and core banking refresh to continue growing after posting an after-tax profit of $25.5 million today.
    Staff Writers Aug 25 2008 3:49PM Networking
    Telstra gets the all clear for NBN info

    Telstra gets the all clear for NBN info

    Government has confirmed receipt of all of Telstra's required network information for the national broadband network (NBN), the telco giant announced today.
    Staff Writers Aug 22 2008 1:07PM Telco/ISP
    Deadline set for NBN info

    Deadline set for NBN info

    Telcos in the running for the $4.7 billion national broadband network (NBN) have two more weeks to finalise and hand over the network information needed for the tender process.
    Staff Writers Aug 8 2008 10:33AM Telco/ISP
    Struggles continue over NBN separation

    Struggles continue over NBN separation

    As the tender process for the national broadband network (NBN) continues, the argument over separation of the network rages on.
    Ashley Clark Aug 1 2008 3:33PM Telco/ISP
    Weekly Roundup: The NBN seems further away and an astronaut outs aliens on heavy metal radio

    Weekly Roundup: The NBN seems further away and an astronaut outs aliens on heavy metal radio

    New setbacks arose this week for the national broadband network (NBN). In other news, a former astronaut claimed aliens have been to Earth during a radio interview.
    Staff Writers Jul 26 2008 1:24PM Telco/ISP
    Government extends NBN deadline

    Government extends NBN deadline

    National broadband network (NBN) hopefuls will now have even longer to ready their proposals, as Broadband Minister Stephen Conroy announced today that he would be asking for more information.
    Ashley Clark Jul 18 2008 3:52PM Telco/ISP
    "The knives are out" : Telstra's take on the NBN

    "The knives are out" : Telstra's take on the NBN

    Telstra has hit out at its critics with claims that the release of the National Broadband Network (NBN) regulatory submissions has lifted the veil to reveal a unified attack on the telco.
    Lilia Guan Jul 4 2008 2:47PM Telco/ISP

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