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 quotes at least 1200 customers on a switch to full fibre

    NBN Co quotes at least 1200 customers on a switch to full fibre

    Does not reveal acceptance rate.
    Ry Crozier May 27 2020 11:41PM Telco/ISP
    Aussie Broadband's 250 Mbps NBN sign-up spurt continues

    Aussie Broadband's 250 Mbps NBN sign-up spurt continues

    Also adds sharp rise in gigabit business connections to its books.
    Ry Crozier May 26 2020 10:16PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co faces fresh pressure not to fully unwind free bandwidth boost

    NBN Co faces fresh pressure not to fully unwind free bandwidth boost

    As its own research shows ongoing need.
    Ry Crozier May 26 2020 12:28PM Telco/ISP
    Aussie Broadband to offer 'best effort' gigabit NBN plans for $149

    Aussie Broadband to offer 'best effort' gigabit NBN plans for $149

    Still unsure what peak speeds are achievable.
    Ry Crozier May 26 2020 12:00PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra CEO wants NBN upgrade paths reflected in govt policy

    Telstra CEO wants NBN upgrade paths reflected in govt policy

    Calls for telcos to be unshackled from past policy and decisions.
    Ry Crozier May 25 2020 11:24AM Telco/ISP
    ACCC questions consumer need for higher-priced 100Mbps NBN services

    ACCC questions consumer need for higher-priced 100Mbps NBN services

    Because 50Mbps is enough for streaming.
    Ry Crozier May 21 2020 12:52PM Telco/ISP
    Broadband tax start date delayed to January 2021

    Broadband tax start date delayed to January 2021

    As laws finally pass parliament.
    Justin Hendry May 14 2020 5:00PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co sources $6.1 billion from banks

    NBN Co sources $6.1 billion from banks

    Bolsters working capital, upgrades possible.
    Ry Crozier May 12 2020 7:45AM Financial Services
    NBN Co must hand over more data on 'impaired' fixed-line services

    NBN Co must hand over more data on 'impaired' fixed-line services

    In its customer base.
    Ry Crozier May 5 2020 12:00PM Telco/ISP
    Govt says 2GB to 20GB a month 'enough to participate in digital economy'

    Govt says 2GB to 20GB a month 'enough to participate in digital economy'

    But won’t work for multi-person households.
    Ry Crozier May 1 2020 12:30PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co extends temporary bandwidth and quota boosts to July

    NBN Co extends temporary bandwidth and quota boosts to July

    Extra two months as service demands remain high.
    Ry Crozier Apr 30 2020 1:52PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co gets wishlist to compete for new housing estate work

    NBN Co gets wishlist to compete for new housing estate work

    Price flexibility while other rules relaxed.
    Ry Crozier Apr 27 2020 11:39AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co expects to pick up broadband tab of 300,000 businesses

    NBN Co expects to pick up broadband tab of 300,000 businesses

    Reveals relief not capped at $50m.
    Ry Crozier Apr 22 2020 6:59AM Telco/ISP
    Aussie Broadband starts rolling its own fibre to NBN POIs

    Aussie Broadband starts rolling its own fibre to NBN POIs

    Begins work on a 20km dark fibre loop in Melbourne.
    Ry Crozier Apr 21 2020 3:41PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co creates new basic Sky Muster Plus tier for low-income internet offer

    NBN Co creates new basic Sky Muster Plus tier for low-income internet offer

    Comes with 80 percent less metered data quota.
    Ry Crozier Apr 20 2020 1:13PM Telco/ISP
    Superloop uses NBN scheme to offer free broadband to 5000 low-income homes

    Superloop uses NBN scheme to offer free broadband to 5000 low-income homes

    Opens applications.
    Ry Crozier Apr 18 2020 12:04PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to temporarily cut internet costs for low-income families

    NBN Co to temporarily cut internet costs for low-income families

    As part of $150m “relief” package.
    Ry Crozier Apr 17 2020 9:17AM Telco/ISP
    Telstra pushes for a full breakdown of NBN Co's costs

    Telstra pushes for a full breakdown of NBN Co's costs

    To expose the existence of any cross-subsidies.
    Ry Crozier Apr 16 2020 6:57AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co starts testing feasibility of mmWave for future fixed wireless

    NBN Co starts testing feasibility of mmWave for future fixed wireless

    Delivering services over distances up to 10km.
    Ry Crozier Apr 9 2020 4:00PM Telco/ISP
    Vodafone chief flags co-investment option to upgrade NBN FTTN users to full fibre

    Vodafone chief flags co-investment option to upgrade NBN FTTN users to full fibre

    As merged TPG-Vodafone entity takes keen interest.
    Ry Crozier Apr 9 2020 1:10PM Telco/ISP

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