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 sees 250Mbps take-up rise after price cut

    NBN Co sees 250Mbps take-up rise after price cut

    While low end rebalances following 12Mbps changes.
    Ry Crozier Feb 20 2020 11:28AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co won't reveal individual profit and loss for wireless, satellite

    NBN Co won't reveal individual profit and loss for wireless, satellite

    Could undermine the case for a broadband tax.
    Ry Crozier Feb 20 2020 7:05AM Telco/ISP
    Broadband tax bill gets senate committee green light

    Broadband tax bill gets senate committee green light

    Only minor transparency improvements needed.
    Justin Hendry Feb 17 2020 1:49PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co's HFC, FTTC costs now higher than expected

    NBN Co's HFC, FTTC costs now higher than expected

    Final part of the build sees numbers spike.
    Ry Crozier Feb 11 2020 11:52AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co begins renegotiating its role in enterprise market

    NBN Co begins renegotiating its role in enterprise market

    Questions how users can be held responsible for fibre build costs.
    Ry Crozier Feb 10 2020 12:17PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co has over 6000 'metro' premises in Sky Muster footprint

    NBN Co has over 6000 'metro' premises in Sky Muster footprint

    Will figure rise as mid-2020 build deadline approaches?
    Ry Crozier Feb 4 2020 12:50PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co may try buying into a SpaceX-like service for future Sky Muster

    NBN Co may try buying into a SpaceX-like service for future Sky Muster

    Rather than go to the expense of deploying its own satellites again.
    Ry Crozier Jan 30 2020 11:23PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co will stop direct deals with enterprise customers

    NBN Co will stop direct deals with enterprise customers

    Backs down on enterprise market war.
    Ry Crozier Jan 30 2020 10:12AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to stop overbuilding existing business fibre networks

    NBN Co to stop overbuilding existing business fibre networks

    Major reversal could take heat off company’s enterprise play.
    Ry Crozier Jan 28 2020 2:00PM Telco/ISP
    Vocus wants NBN Co's enterprise "direct sales" team shut down

    Vocus wants NBN Co's enterprise "direct sales" team shut down

    Or alternatively to face Telstra-like structural separation.
    Ry Crozier Jan 28 2020 6:30AM Telco/ISP
    Optus breaks silence on NBN Co's enterprise behaviour

    Optus breaks silence on NBN Co's enterprise behaviour

    Warns future is at risk for some existing providers.
    Ry Crozier Jan 23 2020 1:36PM Telco/ISP
    Farmers crack whip on data rights in agtech reality check

    Farmers crack whip on data rights in agtech reality check

    Issues compounded by poor broadband and power hungry blockchain.
    Julian Bajkowski Jan 22 2020 1:19PM Strategy
    Telstra may lose ground in regional Australia

    Telstra may lose ground in regional Australia

    ACCC predicts up to 15 percent of the market may be up for grabs.
    Ry Crozier Jan 21 2020 1:26PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co Sky Muster outage extends past 24 hours

    NBN Co Sky Muster outage extends past 24 hours

    Impacting "multiple geographic areas".
    Ry Crozier Jan 21 2020 10:43AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co reveals active Sky Muster users within 25km of city centres

    NBN Co reveals active Sky Muster users within 25km of city centres

    Sheds light on 'urban' satellite usage.
    Ry Crozier Jan 16 2020 1:15PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co may need to prove it isn't cross-subsidising enterprise play

    NBN Co may need to prove it isn't cross-subsidising enterprise play

    Faces renewed attention on its transparency.
    Ry Crozier Jan 14 2020 11:07AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co upgrades small portion of slow FTTN services to full fibre

    NBN Co upgrades small portion of slow FTTN services to full fibre

    Where the other underperforming services will move is unclear.
    Ry Crozier Jan 9 2020 12:36PM Telco/ISP
    Vodafone claims all NBN services are uncommercial

    Vodafone claims all NBN services are uncommercial

    Some connections can't subsidise others, and broadband tax won't fix it.
    Ry Crozier Jan 8 2020 9:43AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co deploys satellite services to bushfire evacuation centres

    NBN Co deploys satellite services to bushfire evacuation centres

    As Telstra opens payphone network nationally.
    Ry Crozier Jan 6 2020 11:39AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co technicians outright missed 350 appointments a day in FY19

    NBN Co technicians outright missed 350 appointments a day in FY19

    Under new definition of what constitutes a miss.
    Ry Crozier Jan 2 2020 12:37PM Telco/ISP

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