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.

    • Two NBN staff stood down in AFP leak investigation

    Two NBN staff stood down in AFP leak investigation

    Interviews lead network builder to alleged culprits.
    Allie Coyne May 23 2016 9:25AM Telco/ISP
    Fifield knew of NBN's AFP leak referral

    Fifield knew of NBN's AFP leak referral

    Says he didn't tell the PM.
    Allie Coyne May 21 2016 11:26AM Telco/ISP
    AFP boss denies govt influence in Labor NBN raids

    AFP boss denies govt influence in Labor NBN raids

    Labor angry over timing of investigation.
    Allie Coyne May 20 2016 10:40AM Telco/ISP
    AFP raids Labor offices over NBN leaks

    AFP raids Labor offices over NBN leaks

    Conroy, Clare staffers searched.
    Allie Coyne May 19 2016 9:09PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra customers lose NBN services in NSW

    Telstra customers lose NBN services in NSW

    Telco grappling with another outage.
    Allie Coyne May 13 2016 3:50PM Telco/ISP
    NBN hits 2 million premises mark

    NBN hits 2 million premises mark

    Will need to up its game to reach 4.4m by 2018.
    Allie Coyne May 6 2016 11:33AM Telco/ISP
    The NBN is about to run out of money

    The NBN is about to run out of money

    Company already tapping private sector sources.
    Allie Coyne May 3 2016 9:25PM Telco/ISP
    TPG buying highest speed NBN wholesale services

    TPG buying highest speed NBN wholesale services

    ACCC issues first report on NBN wholesale market.
    Allie Coyne Apr 29 2016 11:21AM Telco/ISP
    Michael Malone joins NBN board

    Michael Malone joins NBN board

    Replaces Simon Hackett.
    Allie Coyne Apr 22 2016 3:30PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra staff, systems errors expose wholesale data

    Telstra staff, systems errors expose wholesale data

    But severity of SSU breaches lessening.
    Allie Coyne Apr 15 2016 9:31AM Telco/ISP
    ACCC 'concerned' about Telstra's NBN contracts

    ACCC 'concerned' about Telstra's NBN contracts

    Could pose competition issues.
    Allie Coyne Apr 11 2016 10:11AM Telco/ISP
    Telstra gets $1.6bn to help deliver NBN's HFC rollout

    Telstra gets $1.6bn to help deliver NBN's HFC rollout

    Contract formally signed.
    Allie Coyne Apr 11 2016 9:11AM Telco/ISP
    The fee that is breaking the NBN

    The fee that is breaking the NBN

    Is the network's commercial model in need of further repair?
    Allie Coyne Apr 7 2016 10:00AM Telco/ISP
    Labor hints at FTTdp NBN election policy

    Labor hints at FTTdp NBN election policy

    Full fibre too hard.
    Allie Coyne Apr 5 2016 4:41PM Telco/ISP
    NBN price overhaul won't fix 'Netflix effect': Optus

    NBN price overhaul won't fix 'Netflix effect': Optus

    Says network builder must adapt to new broadband model.
    Allie Coyne Apr 5 2016 12:05PM Telco/ISP
    Former NBN subcontractor collapses

    Former NBN subcontractor collapses

    Ex-Visionstream partner leaves creditors chasing millions.
    Andrew Sadauskas Apr 5 2016 12:00PM Telco/ISP
    NBN to give RSPs discounts for heavy use customers

    NBN to give RSPs discounts for heavy use customers

    Restructures pricing model after RSP concerns.
    Allie Coyne Apr 5 2016 6:00AM Telco/ISP
    Government to review Telstra's USO

    Government to review Telstra's USO

    Current regime out of date.
    Allie Coyne Apr 4 2016 3:52PM Telco/ISP
    James Cook Uni connects the Daintree rainforest to the NBN

    James Cook Uni connects the Daintree rainforest to the NBN

    Forget the internet of things – this is the internet of trees.
    Andrew Sadauskas Apr 1 2016 12:00PM Telco/ISP
    NBN still grappling with inaccurate housing data

    NBN still grappling with inaccurate housing data

    But optimistic about FSAM budgets.
    Andrew Colley Mar 24 2016 6:21AM Networking

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