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 to move into flagship Sydney office

    NBN Co to move into flagship Sydney office

    Leases 48 percent of new tower.
    Ry Crozier Oct 17 2017 1:13PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra frets over TPG mobile threat

    Telstra frets over TPG mobile threat

    Raises first concerns about pricing.
    Ry Crozier Oct 17 2017 11:54AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co works to recover cost of network damage

    NBN Co works to recover cost of network damage

    Investigates and pursues third parties.
    Ry Crozier Oct 17 2017 6:40AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co attacks backlog of "aged" support tickets

    NBN Co attacks backlog of "aged" support tickets

    Multi-technology mix proves to be blessing and curse.
    Ry Crozier Oct 16 2017 9:47AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to start charging for 'no fault found' callouts

    NBN Co to start charging for 'no fault found' callouts

    Fee waiver to end.
    Stuart Corner Oct 12 2017 11:04AM Telco/ISP
    Small rural telcos surge as NBN misses mark

    Small rural telcos surge as NBN misses mark

    Regional providers take advantage of bandwidth demand.
    Stuart Corner Oct 11 2017 6:30AM Telco/ISP
    UK to crack down on slowpoke ISPs

    UK to crack down on slowpoke ISPs

    Deliver minimum speeds or customers can walk.
    Juha Saarinen Oct 10 2017 10:29AM Telco/ISP
    ACCC shelves changes to NBN T&Cs

    ACCC shelves changes to NBN T&Cs

    Waits for NBN Co's price construct inquiry to finish.
    Ry Crozier Oct 9 2017 12:59PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co pursues more physical HFC node splits

    NBN Co pursues more physical HFC node splits

    After large program of virtual splits.
    Ry Crozier Oct 6 2017 12:23PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra to combat NBN Co's move into public safety

    Telstra to combat NBN Co's move into public safety

    Plans emergency services data exchange, white space wireless.
    Ry Crozier Oct 5 2017 6:38AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co cuts energy used by aggregation, FTTN nodes

    NBN Co cuts energy used by aggregation, FTTN nodes

    Early results from power reduction drive.
    Ry Crozier Oct 4 2017 12:01PM Networking
    Telstra's 20-year USO deal savaged by auditor

    Telstra's 20-year USO deal savaged by auditor

    May be impossible to end it early.
    Ry Crozier Sep 29 2017 5:06PM Telco/ISP
    NBN inquiry demands drastic refocus of broadband project

    NBN inquiry demands drastic refocus of broadband project

    But government unlikely to agree.
    Ry Crozier Sep 29 2017 2:34PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to use new price model to lure business

    NBN Co to use new price model to lure business

    Scraps long-delayed Ethernet offering.
    Ry Crozier Sep 27 2017 5:08PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co wants users to leave their legacy services faster

    NBN Co wants users to leave their legacy services faster

    New strategy to bring forward activations.
    Ry Crozier Sep 26 2017 6:54AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co finally reveals satellite users who will lose ADSL

    NBN Co finally reveals satellite users who will lose ADSL

    Options still being weighed up.
    Ry Crozier Sep 21 2017 12:43PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co wants big data to mend customer experience

    NBN Co wants big data to mend customer experience

    Sets up 'tech lab'.
    Ry Crozier Sep 21 2017 6:00AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co targets in-home wiring faults

    NBN Co targets in-home wiring faults

    Trials internal diagnostics tool and 'limited' free repairs.
    Ry Crozier Sep 20 2017 6:00AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co gets more time to connect sensitive govt sites

    NBN Co gets more time to connect sensitive govt sites

    Sites can also keep existing services intact longer.
    Ry Crozier Sep 19 2017 2:54PM Security
    TPG's NBN user base hits 561,000

    TPG's NBN user base hits 561,000

    But margin pressure means its future is mobile.
    Ry Crozier Sep 19 2017 10:32AM Telco/ISP

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