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 eyes Salesforce expansion

    NBN Co eyes Salesforce expansion

    Year-old deployment grows wings.
    Ry Crozier Oct 27 2016 11:58AM Software
    NBN Co reveals ambition to become IoT player

    NBN Co reveals ambition to become IoT player

    Wants govt to expand remit to connect traffic lights, run IT services.
    Ry Crozier Oct 21 2016 12:00PM Telco/ISP
    Vodafone to sell NBN fixed-line services

    Vodafone to sell NBN fixed-line services

    Latest provider to switch from being a mobile-only player.
    Ry Crozier Oct 19 2016 1:41PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co hits 8 Gbps over copper in XG.FAST trials

    NBN Co hits 8 Gbps over copper in XG.FAST trials

    Early-stage tech put through lab tests.
    Juha Saarinen Oct 18 2016 7:17AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co signs up to Facebook's Workplace

    NBN Co signs up to Facebook's Workplace

    Most staff already using the social business platform.
    Allie Coyne Oct 11 2016 3:02PM Telco/ISP
    Botched software upgrade stutters NBN satellite connections

    Botched software upgrade stutters NBN satellite connections

    Modems struggle to connect to network after reboot.
    Allie Coyne Oct 6 2016 2:05PM Telco/ISP
    Watch: NBN Co's Sky Muster II blasts off

    Watch: NBN Co's Sky Muster II blasts off

    Second satellite launches from South America.
    Allie Coyne Oct 6 2016 6:30AM Telco/ISP
    NBN satellite launch delayed by bad weather

    NBN satellite launch delayed by bad weather

    Sky Muster II rescheduled to blast off within two days.
    Allie Coyne Oct 5 2016 11:00AM Telco/ISP
    ACCC declares Telstra's mass systems remediation complete

    ACCC declares Telstra's mass systems remediation complete

    Finally compliant with SSU.
    Allie Coyne Oct 4 2016 9:24AM Telco/ISP
    Ziggy wins second term as NBN chair

    Ziggy wins second term as NBN chair

    Will last until almost the end of NBN rollout.
    Allie Coyne Sep 30 2016 12:30PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co dumps Optus HFC for FTTdp

    NBN Co dumps Optus HFC for FTTdp

    Will cost too much, take too long to fix network.
    Allie Coyne Sep 28 2016 4:00PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra to expand field tech workforce by 1000

    Telstra to expand field tech workforce by 1000

    Admits installation and repair experience 'could be improved'.
    Staff Writers Sep 23 2016 11:53AM Telco/ISP
    MNF tries to reverse 'sub-scale' NBN reach

    MNF tries to reverse 'sub-scale' NBN reach

    Small players battle to break into market.
    Ry Crozier Sep 23 2016 11:10AM Telco/ISP
    Three ISPs take 83 percent of NBN market

    Three ISPs take 83 percent of NBN market

    Only the biggest thrive.
    Ry Crozier Sep 22 2016 6:50AM Telco/ISP
    iiNet boosts TPG growth

    iiNet boosts TPG growth

    Telco books 69 percent rise in net profit.
    Ry Crozier Sep 20 2016 11:04AM Telco/ISP
    Stephen Conroy quits the Senate

    Stephen Conroy quits the Senate

    Calls NBN his "greatest contribution".
    Paris Cowan Sep 16 2016 10:50AM Telco/ISP
    Libs propose new NBN committee led by govt MP

    Libs propose new NBN committee led by govt MP

    To continue scrutiny of rollout until network is complete.
    Allie Coyne Sep 12 2016 9:20AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co beefs up cyber security offense

    NBN Co beefs up cyber security offense

    Ramp up of rollout leads to fresh capabilities.
    Ry Crozier Sep 8 2016 6:50AM Security
    Telstra wants 120 network staff to put their hand up for redundancy

    Telstra wants 120 network staff to put their hand up for redundancy

    Union claims lack of NBN build contracts has taken its toll.
    Allie Coyne Sep 7 2016 11:33AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to file patent on new HFC workaround

    NBN Co to file patent on new HFC workaround

    Fuses coaxial cable with VDSL.
    Allie Coyne Aug 31 2016 1:32PM Telco/ISP

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