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.

    • 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
    NBN footprint to shrink by six figures

    NBN footprint to shrink by six figures

    Long-running data quality issues scoped.
    Ry Crozier May 25 2017 5:29PM Telco/ISP
    Number of homes in NBN limbo balloons

    Number of homes in NBN limbo balloons

    More than doubles in just six months.
    Ry Crozier May 25 2017 6:50AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to give 8 percent of new premises FTTN

    NBN Co to give 8 percent of new premises FTTN

    In-fill proportion revealed.
    Ry Crozier May 17 2017 6:57PM Telco/ISP
    NBN, Vodafone contractor goes under owing millions

    NBN, Vodafone contractor goes under owing millions

    Eighty staff sacked as Daly International calls in administrators.
    Steven Kiernan May 17 2017 6:50AM Financial Services
    Telstra admits thousands of NBN users were shafted on speeds

    Telstra admits thousands of NBN users were shafted on speeds

    Being moved to lower speed tiers.
    Allie Coyne May 12 2017 8:30AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co betting on business to boost ARPU

    NBN Co betting on business to boost ARPU

    Ability to meet revenue goals is on the line.
    Allie Coyne May 11 2017 11:49AM Telco/ISP
    Complaints about telcos skyrocketed at the end of last year

    Complaints about telcos skyrocketed at the end of last year

    Blamed on issues associated with NBN rollout.
    Staff Writers May 11 2017 9:17AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to 'mature' its security architecture

    NBN Co to 'mature' its security architecture

    Creates new team as it ramps up ops focus.
    Ry Crozier May 5 2017 2:20PM Security
    Amaysim puts speeds at centre of NBN play

    Amaysim puts speeds at centre of NBN play

    Will build direct links to selected PoIs.
    Ry Crozier May 5 2017 12:03PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co replaces more FTTN with FTTC

    NBN Co replaces more FTTN with FTTC

    Analysis: Who wins in the latest 300,000 premises expansion.
    Ry Crozier May 4 2017 6:45AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co reshuffle sees CTO replaced

    NBN Co reshuffle sees CTO replaced

    New tier of ‘executive general managers’ appointed.
    Ry Crozier May 2 2017 11:55AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co pushes PoI redundancy back to 2018

    NBN Co pushes PoI redundancy back to 2018

    Cites conflicting priorities.
    Ry Crozier May 1 2017 11:50AM Telco/ISP
    Turnbull calls NBN a 'good debt' for taxpayers

    Turnbull calls NBN a 'good debt' for taxpayers

    Relying on 2020 revenue projections.
    Ry Crozier Apr 27 2017 3:18PM Telco/ISP
    NSW govt in huge digital collaboration project

    NSW govt in huge digital collaboration project

    Pilots Workplace by Facebook, but uncommitted to tech.
    Ry Crozier Apr 27 2017 6:45AM Software
    NBN Co hits 1Gbps+ speeds in fixed wireless trials

    NBN Co hits 1Gbps+ speeds in fixed wireless trials

    Expands footprint by 100,000.
    Andrew Colley Apr 26 2017 6:00AM Networking
    Garbage truck takes down copper cable in FTTN area

    Garbage truck takes down copper cable in FTTN area

    But only NBN users are reconnected quickly.
    Ry Crozier Apr 21 2017 12:00PM Telco/ISP

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