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.

    • NBN Co to provide "instant online quotes" for Technology Choice upgrades

    NBN Co to provide "instant online quotes" for Technology Choice upgrades

    Unveils revamp of user-pays scheme.
    Ry Crozier Sep 23 2020 2:06PM Telco/ISP
    Details of NBN Co's $3bn FTTN upgrade are still undecided

    Details of NBN Co's $3bn FTTN upgrade are still undecided

    Industry yet to be consulted.
    Ry Crozier Sep 23 2020 12:31PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to spend $3bn upgrading half of FTTN network to full fibre

    NBN Co to spend $3bn upgrading half of FTTN network to full fibre

    Faster connections to be available 'on demand'.
    Ry Crozier Sep 23 2020 6:25AM Telco/ISP
    Govt ties business fibre upgrades to NBN Co's financial achievements

    Govt ties business fibre upgrades to NBN Co's financial achievements

    Analysis: What revenue level is needed to tick off similar residential upgrades?
    Ry Crozier Sep 22 2020 3:32PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to spend $700m on 240 'business fibre zones' across Australia

    NBN Co to spend $700m on 240 'business fibre zones' across Australia

    Unveils three-year construction, rezoning package.
    Ry Crozier Sep 22 2020 7:03AM Telco/ISP
    Aussie Broadband boss says NBN Co could change price construct in months, if it wanted to

    Aussie Broadband boss says NBN Co could change price construct in months, if it wanted to

    Not the massive change it is made out to be.
    Ry Crozier Sep 18 2020 1:22PM Telco/ISP
    Netflix, YouTube to lift Aussie bitrate restrictions once more

    Netflix, YouTube to lift Aussie bitrate restrictions once more

    Pandemic-related limits to be relaxed 'around September 22'.
    Ry Crozier Sep 17 2020 9:40AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co extends 40 percent bandwidth offer for another three months

    NBN Co extends 40 percent bandwidth offer for another three months

    Will continue until November 30.
    Justin Hendry Sep 4 2020 1:39PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co creates path to bring low-income users up to paid plans

    NBN Co creates path to bring low-income users up to paid plans

    Extends COVID-related 'education' offer until January 2021.
    Ry Crozier Sep 1 2020 11:36AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co faces 'close monitoring' in new developments

    NBN Co faces 'close monitoring' in new developments

    Competition concerns remain, even as rules are changed.
    Ry Crozier Sep 1 2020 10:38AM Telco/ISP
    Telstra, Optus, TPG and Dodo left some customers 'high and dry' in NBN migration

    Telstra, Optus, TPG and Dodo left some customers 'high and dry' in NBN migration

    Breach replacement service, remedial plan rules.
    Ry Crozier Sep 1 2020 6:55AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co signs Service Stream, Downer EDI to new field services deals

    NBN Co signs Service Stream, Downer EDI to new field services deals

    Expected to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
    Ry Crozier Aug 31 2020 4:11PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co says 126,000 FTTN users still can't get 25Mbps speeds

    NBN Co says 126,000 FTTN users still can't get 25Mbps speeds

    'Vast majority' will be remediated by the end of the year.
    Ry Crozier Aug 31 2020 11:36AM Telco/ISP
    Uniti urges broadband tax extension to cellular

    Uniti urges broadband tax extension to cellular

    Argues equivalency is fast approaching, if not here already.
    Ry Crozier Aug 24 2020 12:39PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co agrees to pay up for slow internet, poor service

    NBN Co agrees to pay up for slow internet, poor service

    Now that the rollout is largely complete.
    Ry Crozier Aug 20 2020 10:54AM Telco/ISP
    Vocus bucks downward trend on NBN margins

    Vocus bucks downward trend on NBN margins

    Mainly through focused cost reduction.
    Ry Crozier Aug 19 2020 12:30PM Telco/ISP
    Aussie Broadband now has 5080 'up to gigabit' NBN customers

    Aussie Broadband now has 5080 'up to gigabit' NBN customers

    Continues to dominate 250Mbps signups as well.
    Ry Crozier Aug 13 2020 10:25AM Telco/ISP
    Telstra calls profitability of NBN services 'negligible at best'

    Telstra calls profitability of NBN services 'negligible at best'

    Revives long-running “unsustainable” claims.
    Ry Crozier Aug 13 2020 9:43AM Telco/ISP
    Superloop to bring in ex-NBN Co exec as CEO

    Superloop to bring in ex-NBN Co exec as CEO

    Paul Tyler to join from October.
    Ry Crozier Aug 12 2020 10:33AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co used extra $700m CapEx in final year of 'initial build'

    NBN Co used extra $700m CapEx in final year of 'initial build'

    Says spend is a 'timing' issue.
    Ry Crozier Aug 11 2020 12:14PM Telco/ISP

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