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 pending AWS migration takes shape

    NBN Co's pending AWS migration takes shape

    Budget could run into tens of millions.
    Ry Crozier Jun 29 2017 11:28AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co boosts Sky Muster data usage limits

    NBN Co boosts Sky Muster data usage limits

    End users expected to see the effects.
    Ry Crozier Jun 27 2017 12:30PM Telco/ISP
    TPG savages broadband tax as band-aid for 'broken' NBN

    TPG savages broadband tax as band-aid for 'broken' NBN

    Even NBN Co is worried about mobile competitors.
    Ry Crozier Jun 26 2017 9:03AM Telco/ISP
    Govt goes ahead with broadband tax bill

    Govt goes ahead with broadband tax bill

    Reiterates assertion that NBN customers won’t pay more.
    Ry Crozier Jun 22 2017 11:43AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to upgrade high-traffic transit routes

    NBN Co to upgrade high-traffic transit routes

    As network build hits scale.
    Ry Crozier Jun 21 2017 11:11AM Telco/ISP
    ACCC seeks volunteers for broadband speed monitoring

    ACCC seeks volunteers for broadband speed monitoring

    Underperforming service providers in the cross hairs.
    Juha Saarinen Jun 19 2017 7:11AM Telco/ISP
    First NBN FTTC areas unlikely to be able to order retail service

    First NBN FTTC areas unlikely to be able to order retail service

    Gap between construction and service launch.
    Ry Crozier Jun 19 2017 6:46AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to push more workloads to public cloud

    NBN Co to push more workloads to public cloud

    Reveals business migration.
    Ry Crozier Jun 15 2017 11:45AM Strategy
    Drastic restructure to help Telstra 'urgently' transform: Penn

    Drastic restructure to help Telstra 'urgently' transform: Penn

    Blames NBN, digital disruption for mass job cuts.
    Allie Coyne Jun 14 2017 3:38PM Telco/ISP
    NBN drives relaxation of 'low-impact' antenna laws

    NBN drives relaxation of 'low-impact' antenna laws

    Govt unveils plans for massive regulatory shake-up.
    Ry Crozier Jun 9 2017 4:14PM Telco/ISP
    NBN exec reshuffle splits chief customer officer role

    NBN exec reshuffle splits chief customer officer role

    Expands number of ‘chiefs’ reporting to CEO from eight to ten.
    Ry Crozier Jun 8 2017 3:52PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to turn around the customer runaround

    NBN Co to turn around the customer runaround

    New centre to get everyone on the same page.
    Ry Crozier Jun 8 2017 6:45AM Telco/ISP
    Kogan to on-sell Vodafone's NBN services

    Kogan to on-sell Vodafone's NBN services

    Extends scope and length of existing MNVO deal.
    Staff Writers Jun 7 2017 9:32AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co takes HFC up to 984 Mbps in lab trials

    NBN Co takes HFC up to 984 Mbps in lab trials

    Test set-up for latest gigabit efforts.
    Ry Crozier Jun 6 2017 11:15AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co cuts over to new CVC discounts

    NBN Co cuts over to new CVC discounts

    Could reduce congestion on network for some users.
    Ry Crozier Jun 1 2017 6:50AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co left holding $1m damage bill

    NBN Co left holding $1m damage bill

    For accidental and not-so-accidental action against its assets.
    Ry Crozier May 31 2017 12:02PM Telco/ISP
    Few users go through with expensive NBN tech switches

    Few users go through with expensive NBN tech switches

    Hundreds of applicants, tens of upgrades.
    Ry Crozier May 31 2017 6:00AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co defends fixed wireless and SC0 growth

    NBN Co defends fixed wireless and SC0 growth

    Responds to investigations.
    Ry Crozier May 26 2017 7:57AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co promises more FTTC

    NBN Co promises more FTTC

    Closer fibre connections fuel gigabit ambitions.
    Ry Crozier May 26 2017 7:32AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co may lift Sky Muster's fair use limit

    NBN Co may lift Sky Muster's fair use limit

    Review underway.
    Ry Crozier May 26 2017 7:30AM Telco/ISP

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