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 sees its first-ever dip in active HFC services

    NBN Co sees its first-ever dip in active HFC services

    Analysis: But where did the users go?
    Ry Crozier Mar 10 2023 6:43AM Telco/ISP
    Optus predicts NBN Co's drive to 100Mbps will backfire

    Optus predicts NBN Co's drive to 100Mbps will backfire

    Leading to mass downgrades.
    Ry Crozier Feb 27 2023 7:07AM Telco/ISP
    TPG Telecom wants yearly NBN price rises blocked

    TPG Telecom wants yearly NBN price rises blocked

    And more price stability generally.
    Ry Crozier Feb 21 2023 12:46PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co wants 121,000 FTTN-P upgrades done by July

    NBN Co wants 121,000 FTTN-P upgrades done by July

    Discloses five-year take-up expectations.
    Ry Crozier Feb 17 2023 7:06AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co labels exodus to Starlink 'modest'

    NBN Co labels exodus to Starlink 'modest'

    As active users of Sky Muster hover just above 100,000.
    Ry Crozier Feb 15 2023 6:45AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co renews bid to force ACCC review of mobile threat

    NBN Co renews bid to force ACCC review of mobile threat

    Presses senate committee to take notice.
    Ry Crozier Feb 9 2023 1:09PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co shows upgrade trajectory for 50-to-100Mbps migration

    NBN Co shows upgrade trajectory for 50-to-100Mbps migration

    Lays out forecast for next three years.
    Ry Crozier Jan 17 2023 11:47AM Telco/ISP
    Future NBN 'price shock' weighs on ACCC

    Future NBN 'price shock' weighs on ACCC

    As regulator looks beyond mid-2032.
    Ry Crozier Jan 16 2023 12:30PM Telco/ISP
    TPG Telecom predicts NBN 50Mbps and 100Mbps price convergence

    TPG Telecom predicts NBN 50Mbps and 100Mbps price convergence

    In as little as one year, if new pricing model passes.
    Ry Crozier Dec 21 2022 9:52AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co's new expectations emphasise 'affordable' broadband

    NBN Co's new expectations emphasise 'affordable' broadband

    As the company struggles to demonstrate value.
    Ry Crozier Dec 21 2022 2:14AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co won't say how many premises got a fibre upgrade

    NBN Co won't say how many premises got a fibre upgrade

    In the first nine months of its overbuild program.
    Ry Crozier Dec 16 2022 7:25AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co wants to lift 50Mbps prices but not service quality

    NBN Co wants to lift 50Mbps prices but not service quality

    Declares its product pricing is a package deal.
    Ry Crozier Dec 15 2022 11:49AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co has high-use 'free-riders' in its sights

    NBN Co has high-use 'free-riders' in its sights

    Hopes to encourage these users to migrate off of "inappropriate" plans.
    Ry Crozier Dec 14 2022 6:50AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co shows 4.1 percent of free fibre upgraders don't stay on high-tier plans

    NBN Co shows 4.1 percent of free fibre upgraders don't stay on high-tier plans

    Figure expected to climb.
    Ry Crozier Dec 12 2022 5:54PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co performance reporting to be tightened

    NBN Co performance reporting to be tightened

    ACCC considering record keeping rule.
    Staff Writer Dec 8 2022 11:58AM Telco/ISP
    Telstra courts trouble with upload speed cut for Belong 100Mbps NBN users

    Telstra courts trouble with upload speed cut for Belong 100Mbps NBN users

    ACCC files Federal Court action.
    Ry Crozier Dec 6 2022 2:20PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co looks to multi-gigabit speeds for its fibre network

    NBN Co looks to multi-gigabit speeds for its fibre network

    Will deploy new Nokia equipment from next year.
    Staff Writer Dec 5 2022 6:37AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co struggles to stack up for value against the competition

    NBN Co struggles to stack up for value against the competition

    Complains about increased ‘cherry-picking’ of its addressable market.
    Ry Crozier Dec 1 2022 1:56AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co warns of copper network's mounting costs

    NBN Co warns of copper network's mounting costs

    Four times as many faults as fibre, and continuing to degrade.
    Ry Crozier Dec 1 2022 12:09AM Networking
    Government urged to end 'broadband tax'

    Government urged to end 'broadband tax'

    And fund loss-making NBN wireless and satellite itself.
    Richard Chirgwin Nov 29 2022 11:51AM Telco/ISP

    Log In

      |  Forgot your password?