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 is skipping "thousands" of premises a month

    NBN Co is skipping "thousands" of premises a month

    Unable to order a service for over two years.
    Ry Crozier Nov 18 2019 1:43PM Telco/ISP
    New Zealand to get 10 Gbps fibre to premises in 2020

    New Zealand to get 10 Gbps fibre to premises in 2020

    Chorus upgrades lasers.
    Juha Saarinen Nov 18 2019 1:41PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co threatens to halt future FTTN upgrades

    NBN Co threatens to halt future FTTN upgrades

    If it is forced to pay up for faults and slow services.
    Ry Crozier Nov 18 2019 7:15AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co resists calling in reinforcements for FTTC build

    NBN Co resists calling in reinforcements for FTTC build

    As FY20 targets look as large as ever.
    Ry Crozier Nov 13 2019 7:10AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co urged to over-provision downlink on all services

    NBN Co urged to over-provision downlink on all services

    Giving all customers a chance of hitting top theoretical speed.
    Ry Crozier Nov 7 2019 3:22PM Networking
    NBN Co's low-end price offers lead to disagreement

    NBN Co's low-end price offers lead to disagreement

    Leaves some enthused, others underwhelmed.
    Ry Crozier Nov 5 2019 1:25PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co runs into trouble on cheap gigabit plans

    NBN Co runs into trouble on cheap gigabit plans

    Could still be costly to sell en masse, might not work on HFC.
    Ry Crozier Nov 5 2019 7:00AM Telco/ISP
    Optus adds 138K homes to 5G fixed wireless footprint

    Optus adds 138K homes to 5G fixed wireless footprint

    Expands availability of fixed broadband-like service.
    Ry Crozier Nov 4 2019 11:48AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co loses security talent to cashed-up banks

    NBN Co loses security talent to cashed-up banks

    Looks to rebuild, with some changes.
    Ry Crozier Nov 4 2019 7:00AM Training & Development
    NBN Co restructures to set up new regional business unit

    NBN Co restructures to set up new regional business unit

    Combines wireless, satellite and customer ops.
    Ry Crozier Oct 31 2019 11:20AM Telco/ISP
    NSW Education to trial NBN Sky Muster Plus

    NSW Education to trial NBN Sky Muster Plus

    Deliver classes to remote homesteads.
    Ry Crozier Oct 28 2019 6:55AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co now insists $200m not cut from wireless budget

    NBN Co now insists $200m not cut from wireless budget

    Reverses its own position.
    Ry Crozier Oct 23 2019 10:10AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co uses enterprise to finance more fibre for its network

    NBN Co uses enterprise to finance more fibre for its network

    Reframes contentious market entry as side-door to a 'social good'.
    Ry Crozier Oct 23 2019 6:23AM Telco/ISP
    Cutting iiNet staff helps keep TPG steady

    Cutting iiNet staff helps keep TPG steady

    NBN revenue boost revealed in annual report.
    Simon Sharwood Oct 18 2019 12:19PM Financial Services
    NBN Co downsizes wireless, satellite footprints by 130,000 'premises'

    NBN Co downsizes wireless, satellite footprints by 130,000 'premises'

    Because those 'premises' don’t actually exist.
    Ry Crozier Oct 17 2019 1:25PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co claims it will take Australia to 13th in the world for broadband

    NBN Co claims it will take Australia to 13th in the world for broadband

    As CEO calls high-speed broadband a human right.
    Ry Crozier Oct 17 2019 1:41AM Telco/ISP
    Telstra says Australia would have gotten 100Mbps without NBN

    Telstra says Australia would have gotten 100Mbps without NBN

    Ramps up criticism of government-backed telco project.
    Ry Crozier Oct 15 2019 10:22AM Telco/ISP
    Telstra 'reassured' as ACCC looks into NBN pricing

    Telstra 'reassured' as ACCC looks into NBN pricing

    Has wanted a price cut for the past year.
    Ry Crozier Oct 14 2019 4:36PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co faces ACCC challenge to set prices

    NBN Co faces ACCC challenge to set prices

    With particular focus on finding affordable options.
    Ry Crozier Oct 14 2019 10:37AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to revive HFC self-installation option

    NBN Co to revive HFC self-installation option

    After pausing launch plans in 2017.
    Ry Crozier Oct 14 2019 7:00AM Telco/ISP

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