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.

    • 'Natural radiation event' knocks NBN Sky Muster satellite offline

    'Natural radiation event' knocks NBN Sky Muster satellite offline

    Causes all-day nationwide outage.
    Ry Crozier Aug 5 2020 1:41PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co shows distribution of Sky Muster premises within 25km of Adelaide GPO

    NBN Co shows distribution of Sky Muster premises within 25km of Adelaide GPO

    Adds 574 premises to footprint in final seven months of build.
    Ry Crozier Aug 4 2020 12:04PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra positions over-provisioned NBN downlink as a speed boost 'freebie'

    Telstra positions over-provisioned NBN downlink as a speed boost 'freebie'

    As NBN Co wraps up work on its side.
    Ry Crozier Jul 29 2020 5:48PM Telco/ISP
    NBN residential user consumes 34TB in a month

    NBN residential user consumes 34TB in a month

    Sets a new published mark for consumption.
    Ry Crozier Jul 23 2020 4:01PM Telco/ISP
    Aussie Broadband hopes NBN Co will revisit uplink shrinkage on high-tier plans

    Aussie Broadband hopes NBN Co will revisit uplink shrinkage on high-tier plans

    Restructure may help it distance from old thinking.
    Ry Crozier Jul 23 2020 3:08PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra joins CSIRO lab 'that invented wi-fi' to test wireless setups in a six-bedroom home

    Telstra joins CSIRO lab 'that invented wi-fi' to test wireless setups in a six-bedroom home

    Occupied full-time by a robot.
    Ry Crozier Jul 23 2020 12:31PM Telco/ISP
    Aussie Broadband ratchets up pressure on NBN Co over looming bandwidth bonus expiry

    Aussie Broadband ratchets up pressure on NBN Co over looming bandwidth bonus expiry

    Sees a permanent rise in internet use post COVID.
    Ry Crozier Jul 16 2020 11:09AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to cut 800 staff by end of 2020

    NBN Co to cut 800 staff by end of 2020

    Unveils plans for post-build internal restructure.
    Ry Crozier Jul 8 2020 4:00PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co's final build push includes 25k premises that fell through the cracks

    NBN Co's final build push includes 25k premises that fell through the cracks

    Due to overlap in responsibilities with Telstra.
    Ry Crozier Jul 8 2020 1:25PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co will have 22,000 premises still awaiting infrastructure after this year

    NBN Co will have 22,000 premises still awaiting infrastructure after this year

    Increases its focus on hard-to-connect sites.
    Ry Crozier Jul 6 2020 11:32AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co expects to sustain some of its traffic uplift

    NBN Co expects to sustain some of its traffic uplift

    More evidence that bandwidth bonuses might be hard to unwind.
    Ry Crozier Jun 30 2020 5:31PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co may have its costs examined in the back half of 2020

    NBN Co may have its costs examined in the back half of 2020

    As competition watchdog sides with Telstra.
    Ry Crozier Jun 29 2020 6:49AM Telco/ISP
    Vocus to be hauled before Federal Court over NBN speed claims

    Vocus to be hauled before Federal Court over NBN speed claims

    ACCC files suit.
    Ry Crozier Jun 23 2020 9:45AM Telco/ISP
    How federal government services are being reshaped by COVID-19

    How federal government services are being reshaped by COVID-19

    The pandemic has fundamentally shifted the priorities for federal government digital transformation.
    Ry Crozier Jun 15 2020 4:54PM Digital Nation
    NBN Co is testing an online appointment rescheduling tool

    NBN Co is testing an online appointment rescheduling tool

    For new connections and trouble tickets.
    Ry Crozier Jun 15 2020 6:56AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co rezones 42,000 premises from wireless to satellite, fixed-line

    NBN Co rezones 42,000 premises from wireless to satellite, fixed-line

    After being unable to get permission for new towers.
    Ry Crozier Jun 4 2020 1:31PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co must pay TPG, Canberra VDSL2 users for disconnection notice bungle

    NBN Co must pay TPG, Canberra VDSL2 users for disconnection notice bungle

    Mistakenly told users to switch to NBN.
    Ry Crozier Jun 2 2020 4:19PM Telco/ISP
    Aussie Broadband signs 2300 users to cheaper gigabit NBN plans

    Aussie Broadband signs 2300 users to cheaper gigabit NBN plans

    First indication of demand for new affordable high-speed tier.
    Ry Crozier Jun 2 2020 11:23AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co limits gigabit services to just 7 percent of HFC footprint

    NBN Co limits gigabit services to just 7 percent of HFC footprint

    Similarly constrains access to 250 Mbps tier.
    Ry Crozier May 29 2020 1:07AM Telco/ISP
    Aussie Broadband to let business customers self-serve NBN, value-adds

    Aussie Broadband to let business customers self-serve NBN, value-adds

    Unveils Carbon 'elastic interconnect' platform.
    Ry Crozier May 28 2020 1:00PM Telco/ISP

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