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 subcontractor accused of fraud in payments spat

    NBN subcontractor accused of fraud in payments spat

    Judge claims construction firm was topping up invoices.
    Paris Cowan Aug 12 2016 5:08PM Telco/ISP
    NBN ISP SkyMesh snapped up by UK rural satellite company

    NBN ISP SkyMesh snapped up by UK rural satellite company

    Hopes for slice of 400,000 premise market in Australia.
    Juha Saarinen Aug 1 2016 6:14AM Telco/ISP
    Telcos forced to open up high-speed broadband networks

    Telcos forced to open up high-speed broadband networks

    ACCC introduces new regulation.
    Allie Coyne Jul 29 2016 11:59AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co sends first Telstra HFC site live

    NBN Co sends first Telstra HFC site live

    WA suburb becomes second HFC location after Redcliffe.
    Allie Coyne Jul 29 2016 6:30AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co signs billion-dollar HFC build deal

    NBN Co signs billion-dollar HFC build deal

    Construction contract goes to six firms.
    Allie Coyne Jul 14 2016 8:44AM Telco/ISP
    Woolworths wants to become a 'full service' telco

    Woolworths wants to become a 'full service' telco

    Exclusive: Reveals fixed-line, content ambitions.
    Ry Crozier Jul 12 2016 6:50AM Telco/ISP
    Conroy calls for NBN Co's Switkowski to resign

    Conroy calls for NBN Co's Switkowski to resign

    'Demands' apology over AFP raids on his office.
    Allie Coyne Jul 6 2016 10:59AM Telco/ISP
    The juiciest opportunities from Vocus' $861m Nextgen buy

    The juiciest opportunities from Vocus' $861m Nextgen buy

    From subsea to LNG.
    Ry Crozier Jul 4 2016 6:31AM Telco/ISP
    NBN opens Redcliffe HFC network to ISPs

    NBN opens Redcliffe HFC network to ISPs

    Declares 18,800 premises ready for service.
    Ry Crozier Jun 30 2016 2:35PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co's chief architect quits

    NBN Co's chief architect quits

    Tony Cross ends six-year stint.
    Staff Writers Jun 29 2016 9:56AM Telco/ISP
    Clinton promises to connect all US homes to high-speed broadband

    Clinton promises to connect all US homes to high-speed broadband

    Unveils tech policy.
    Staff Writers Jun 29 2016 6:59AM Strategy
    iiNet starts NBN HFC cable trials

    iiNet starts NBN HFC cable trials

    Small sites in Qld and WA selected.
    Juha Saarinen Jun 27 2016 6:00AM Telco/ISP
    Former NBN boss slams Coalition's 'colossal mistake'

    Former NBN boss slams Coalition's 'colossal mistake'

    FTTP 'was and still is the right answer'.
    Stephen Withers Jun 23 2016 6:42AM Telco/ISP
    NBN's fibre-to-the-node take-up revealed

    NBN's fibre-to-the-node take-up revealed

    Analysis: Higher adoption in less time than early FTTP.
    Ry Crozier Jun 21 2016 6:45AM Telco/ISP
    Switkowski breached caretaker conventions with NBN op-ed

    Switkowski breached caretaker conventions with NBN op-ed

    Chairman was warned not to publish.
    Paris Cowan Jun 15 2016 12:03PM Telco/ISP
    Labor's NBN policy promises return to FTTP

    Labor's NBN policy promises return to FTTP

    But HFC to stay.
    Allie Coyne Jun 13 2016 9:50AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co leaves door open for FTTdp in SAU

    NBN Co leaves door open for FTTdp in SAU

    But pushes for no more quarterly updates.
    Allie Coyne May 31 2016 3:22PM Telco/ISP
    Labor claims NBN Co's Switkowski broke election rules

    Labor claims NBN Co's Switkowski broke election rules

    Lashes out over chair's raid defence.
    Staff Writers May 30 2016 10:48AM Telco/ISP
    Too many unanswered questions in NBN leak investigation

    Too many unanswered questions in NBN leak investigation

    [Blog post] Lack of certainty engenders disbelief.
    Allie Coyne May 23 2016 5:21PM Software
    Telstra still struggling with fourth big outage this year

    Telstra still struggling with fourth big outage this year

    Four days offline for some customers.
    Allie Coyne May 23 2016 4:49PM Telco/ISP

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