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's enterprise play catches ACCC's gaze

    NBN Co's enterprise play catches ACCC's gaze

    Regulator unconvinced it isn’t just mission creep.
    Ry Crozier Apr 8 2019 8:01PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co "should" set entry-level broadband prices at ADSL levels

    NBN Co "should" set entry-level broadband prices at ADSL levels

    Regulator finally weighs in on price pressure.
    Ry Crozier Apr 8 2019 7:37PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co opens hundreds of new complex remediation cases

    NBN Co opens hundreds of new complex remediation cases

    A 1290 percent increase in just one year.
    Ry Crozier Apr 4 2019 1:10PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co reveals 183,000 FTTN users don't get over 25Mbps

    NBN Co reveals 183,000 FTTN users don't get over 25Mbps

    Number of impacted users increases since mid-2017.
    Ry Crozier Apr 4 2019 11:59AM Telco/ISP
    Vocus drops 12Mbps NBN plans from iPrimus and Dodo

    Vocus drops 12Mbps NBN plans from iPrimus and Dodo

    As bandwidth discount ends.
    Ry Crozier Apr 2 2019 3:08PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co technicians now missing 469 appointments a day

    NBN Co technicians now missing 469 appointments a day

    But 150 a day just turn up early or late and complete the work.
    Ry Crozier Apr 1 2019 1:31PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co makes final move to kill off 12Mbps broadband plans

    NBN Co makes final move to kill off 12Mbps broadband plans

    Dumps CVC discounts to pressure customers to upgrade or leave.
    Ry Crozier Mar 27 2019 6:55AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co's on-time connections slip to 84 percent

    NBN Co's on-time connections slip to 84 percent

    Problems persist in the activation process.
    Ry Crozier Mar 21 2019 3:10PM Telco/ISP
    Govt to spend $220m on mobile, co-fund NBN area switches

    Govt to spend $220m on mobile, co-fund NBN area switches

    Responds to regional telecommunications review.
    Ry Crozier Mar 20 2019 3:44PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co argues 'no strong basis' for fixed wireless fines

    NBN Co argues 'no strong basis' for fixed wireless fines

    Because it doesn’t offer busy hour performance guarantees.
    Ry Crozier Mar 8 2019 1:05PM Telco/ISP
    Vodafone says NBN Co still providing dodgy speed data

    Vodafone says NBN Co still providing dodgy speed data

    Retail service providers fear more legal problems.
    Ry Crozier Mar 8 2019 1:05PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co reveals uneven spread of 50Mbps-capable premises

    NBN Co reveals uneven spread of 50Mbps-capable premises

    Majority of states and territories to fall short of mandate.
    Ry Crozier Mar 6 2019 6:58AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co Sky Muster knocked offline by software update

    NBN Co Sky Muster knocked offline by software update

    Updated: Nationwide outage resolved at 1pm.
    Ry Crozier Mar 1 2019 11:35AM Telco/ISP
    Aust fibre subscriptions up 70 percent in three years

    Aust fibre subscriptions up 70 percent in three years

    Well above OECD average.
    Juha Saarinen Mar 1 2019 6:50AM Telco/ISP
    Govt leaves call on Layer 3 wireless intervention to NBN Co

    Govt leaves call on Layer 3 wireless intervention to NBN Co

    But won't support more aggressive congestion fixes.
    Ry Crozier Feb 28 2019 12:30PM Telco/ISP
    Massive NBN Co push to flip a million unserviceable premises

    Massive NBN Co push to flip a million unserviceable premises

    By the end of June.
    Ry Crozier Feb 28 2019 6:30AM Telco/ISP
    Vodafone Australia joins the low-margin NBN club

    Vodafone Australia joins the low-margin NBN club

    But says it’s imperative to make the national network workable.
    Ry Crozier Feb 27 2019 5:39PM Telco/ISP
    Vocus won't actively pursue more consumer NBN services

    Vocus won't actively pursue more consumer NBN services

    Calls it "economically unattractive".
    Ry Crozier Feb 27 2019 9:25AM Telco/ISP
    Second NBN supplier scoped for sham contracting class action

    Second NBN supplier scoped for sham contracting class action

    Foxtel, Optus technical subcontractor BSA under Shine microscope.
    Julian Bajkowski Feb 22 2019 12:01PM Networking
    NBN Co faces calls to endorse good quality modems

    NBN Co faces calls to endorse good quality modems

    After internal tests uncovered dud devices.
    Ry Crozier Feb 20 2019 10:59AM Networking

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