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 wants to boost its 100/20Mbps tier to 500/50Mbps

    NBN Co wants to boost its 100/20Mbps tier to 500/50Mbps

    Proposes to shake up all three top-tier plans.
    Ry Crozier Mar 5 2024 7:12AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co receiving more fibre orders than it can connect

    NBN Co receiving more fibre orders than it can connect

    As number of customers upgraded to fibre approaches 200,000.
    Richard Chirgwin Feb 8 2024 11:23AM Telco/ISP
    Tower could be cantilevered over Telstra exchange

    Tower could be cantilevered over Telstra exchange

    Under NSW proposal.
    Richard Chirgwin Jan 31 2024 11:53AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co turns to AI to improve network management

    NBN Co turns to AI to improve network management

    Improving service quality and reliability.
    Brad Howarth Jan 11 2024 10:00AM Networking
    Interactive boosts UCC Coffee’s network to optimise employee experience

    Interactive boosts UCC Coffee’s network to optimise employee experience

    UCC Coffee faced many challenges adapting to the pandemic and then the post-lockdown world.
    Staff Writer Dec 13 2023 1:21PM Partner Content
    NBN Co sets no new fibre take-up target

    NBN Co sets no new fibre take-up target

    Despite metric being "fundamental" to achieving its service ambitions.
    Ry Crozier Nov 9 2023 5:04PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to upgrade 53,000 underperforming FTTN users to fibre

    NBN Co to upgrade 53,000 underperforming FTTN users to fibre

    By the middle of 2024.
    Ry Crozier Nov 9 2023 4:05PM Telco/ISP
    NBN retailers put under watch as price model shifts

    NBN retailers put under watch as price model shifts

    Translation of new wholesale pricing being closely observed.
    Ry Crozier Nov 2 2023 12:51PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to permanently cut prices of high uplink plans

    NBN Co to permanently cut prices of high uplink plans

    Publishes three-year pricing roadmap and strategy.
    Ry Crozier Nov 1 2023 7:14PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to make fewer ACT premises gigabit-capable

    NBN Co to make fewer ACT premises gigabit-capable

    Through its FTTN overbuild program.
    Ry Crozier Oct 25 2023 11:49AM Telco/ISP
    NBN speeds hit 20Gbps in live network trial

    NBN speeds hit 20Gbps in live network trial

    Showing off new Nokia kit.
    Richard Chirgwin Oct 25 2023 10:13AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co renews AI-led vision for network fault detection and remediation

    NBN Co renews AI-led vision for network fault detection and remediation

    Having tried a version of it back in 2018.
    Ry Crozier Oct 23 2023 12:40PM Software
    NBN Co is now upgrading 5000 premises a week to FTTP

    NBN Co is now upgrading 5000 premises a week to FTTP

    While also looking at how it can push wireless speeds past 325Mbps.
    Ry Crozier Oct 19 2023 11:55AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co gets green light for new pricing, service standards

    NBN Co gets green light for new pricing, service standards

    After almost three years.
    Ry Crozier Oct 17 2023 12:47PM Telco/ISP
    NBN price changes by Christmas are now all but certain

    NBN price changes by Christmas are now all but certain

    But providers still not keen for twin ‘price shocks’ for 50Mbps users and below.
    Ry Crozier Sep 20 2023 6:45AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co works on its fibre upgrade processes

    NBN Co works on its fibre upgrade processes

    Tries to get FTTN users activated on fibre sooner.
    Ry Crozier Sep 8 2023 6:51AM Telco/ISP
    Large area wi-fi demonstrated in Sydney

    Large area wi-fi demonstrated in Sydney

    As project reaches halfway point.
    Richard Chirgwin Sep 6 2023 11:28AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co hits savings milestone in IT simplification

    NBN Co hits savings milestone in IT simplification

    While revealing more about work pillars.
    Ry Crozier Sep 6 2023 6:29AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co exec reshuffle in networks and engineering

    NBN Co exec reshuffle in networks and engineering

    Following Kathrine Dyer’s decision to leave.
    Ry Crozier Aug 30 2023 3:45PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co targets apartment blocks for next fibre upgrade wave

    NBN Co targets apartment blocks for next fibre upgrade wave

    Will do whole-of-block upgrades for $275 per apartment.
    Ry Crozier Aug 29 2023 3:36PM Telco/ISP

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