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 kills 100Mbps on fixed wireless

    NBN Co kills 100Mbps on fixed wireless

    Worries instead about getting all users up to 25Mbps.
    Ry Crozier May 24 2018 6:17PM Telco/ISP
    Optus fined $1.5m for forcing HFC customers onto NBN

    Optus fined $1.5m for forcing HFC customers onto NBN

    Chasing migration payment 'bounty'.
    Ry Crozier May 23 2018 8:37AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co's HFC freeze weighs on Optus results

    NBN Co's HFC freeze weighs on Optus results

    Undoes performance gains elsewhere.
    Staff Writers May 17 2018 12:25PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra admits its role under NBN is hurting

    Telstra admits its role under NBN is hurting

    Steps up blame for its financial woes.
    Ry Crozier May 14 2018 9:53AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co digs in on 12Mbps 'class war'

    NBN Co digs in on 12Mbps 'class war'

    But flags concessions for fixed wireless users.
    Ry Crozier May 10 2018 11:51AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co brings cognitive to its network ops

    NBN Co brings cognitive to its network ops

    Could match user complaints to network issues.
    Ry Crozier May 8 2018 6:55AM Software
    NBN Co makes $3m R&D deals with universities

    NBN Co makes $3m R&D deals with universities

    Casts gaze on future.
    Ry Crozier Apr 30 2018 12:30PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co chief gets frank about copper's problems

    NBN Co chief gets frank about copper's problems

    Helped quicken the rollout but caused ongoing issues.
    Ry Crozier Apr 27 2018 1:24PM Telco/ISP
    More NBN users are paying to upgrade last-mile tech

    More NBN users are paying to upgrade last-mile tech

    Rises from 2.4 percent to 6 percent of applicants.
    Ry Crozier Apr 27 2018 6:30AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co reveals distribution of fixed wireless speeds

    NBN Co reveals distribution of fixed wireless speeds

    A quarter of cells average 12Mbps or less in “busy hour”.
    Ry Crozier Apr 26 2018 9:10AM Telco/ISP
    Vocus reveals first NBN speeds for iPrimus, Dodo

    Vocus reveals first NBN speeds for iPrimus, Dodo

    Compares favourably against rivals.
    Ry Crozier Apr 26 2018 6:30AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to create a class war on its network

    NBN Co to create a class war on its network

    Exclusive: How its new price construct really works.
    Ry Crozier Apr 24 2018 6:55AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co accused of using Sky Muster as 'dumping ground'

    NBN Co accused of using Sky Muster as 'dumping ground'

    For hard-to-serve metro premises.
    Ry Crozier Apr 23 2018 7:20AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co leaves fresh batch of FTTC converts until last

    NBN Co leaves fresh batch of FTTC converts until last

    Analysis: Where the 440,000 flipped HFC premises are.
    Ry Crozier Apr 20 2018 7:00AM Telco/ISP
    NBN complaints keep going up

    NBN complaints keep going up

    But fewer involve NBN Co directly.
    Ry Crozier Apr 17 2018 12:01AM Telco/ISP
    Qld govt frets over NBN-powered roadside phones

    Qld govt frets over NBN-powered roadside phones

    Wants migration path for critical services sorted.
    Ry Crozier Apr 16 2018 4:24PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co reveals range for evening congestion among RSPs

    NBN Co reveals range for evening congestion among RSPs

    New indication of quality gap.
    Ry Crozier Apr 13 2018 4:00PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co raised scrapping HFC with govt two years ago

    NBN Co raised scrapping HFC with govt two years ago

    But discussions never went beyond informal stage.
    Ry Crozier Apr 12 2018 7:04AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co will flip 440,000 mostly-HFC premises to FTTC

    NBN Co will flip 440,000 mostly-HFC premises to FTTC

    As it begins to lift HFC sales freeze.
    Ry Crozier Apr 10 2018 9:30AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to run 5G tests in Melbourne

    NBN Co to run 5G tests in Melbourne

    Future fixed wireless enhancement?
    Ry Crozier Apr 10 2018 9:30AM Telco/ISP

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