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 prepares to migrate Telstra special business services

    NBN prepares to migrate Telstra special business services

    Telstra Ethernet Lite, wholesale business DSL first in line.
    Juha Saarinen Oct 26 2015 12:32PM Telco/ISP
    NBN wants 2000 school kids to become copper linesmen

    NBN wants 2000 school kids to become copper linesmen

    Aims to fix skills shortage.
    Andrew Sadauskas Oct 26 2015 9:38AM Telco/ISP
    Extend NBN beyond broadband in regional areas: review

    Extend NBN beyond broadband in regional areas: review

    Leverage NBN for wholesale services, shift USO away from Telstra copper.
    Juha Saarinen Oct 23 2015 7:13AM Telco/ISP
    Five gigabits per second over copper achieved in lab trials

    Five gigabits per second over copper achieved in lab trials

    Proposed XG.FAST standard offers high speeds over short distances.
    Juha Saarinen Oct 22 2015 8:52AM Telco/ISP
    Telstra, NBN push back Christmas disconnection dates

    Telstra, NBN push back Christmas disconnection dates

    To make sure people are home, can make emergency calls.
    Allie Coyne Oct 21 2015 2:15PM Telco/ISP
    NBN spent $14m on 1800km of new copper for FTTN

    NBN spent $14m on 1800km of new copper for FTTN

    To make MTM run smoothly.
    Andrew Sadauskas Oct 21 2015 6:00AM Telco/ISP
    NBN reveals HFC rollout areas

    NBN reveals HFC rollout areas

    Construction map details three-year plan.
    Allie Coyne Oct 16 2015 7:00AM Telco/ISP
    NBN COO Greg Adcock to depart

    NBN COO Greg Adcock to depart

    Network builder won't replace role.
    Allie Coyne Oct 14 2015 10:30AM Telco/ISP
    Govt economists slash NBN rural services loss forecast

    Govt economists slash NBN rural services loss forecast

    Smaller cross-subsidy from telcos mooted.
    Juha Saarinen Oct 14 2015 10:02AM Telco/ISP
    Telstra ordered to drop wholesale prices by 9.4 percent

    Telstra ordered to drop wholesale prices by 9.4 percent

    Telco looking at appeal options.
    Allie Coyne Oct 9 2015 9:27AM Telco/ISP
    When NBN and TPG are battling for your broadband budget

    When NBN and TPG are battling for your broadband budget

    [Blog post] What to do when you have too much fibre in your diet.
    Allie Coyne Oct 7 2015 6:45AM Software
    Lift-off for NBN's long-term satellite

    Lift-off for NBN's long-term satellite

    Customer services still several months away.
    Andrew Sadauskas Oct 1 2015 6:47AM Telco/ISP
    NBN takes aim at satellite broadband leechers

    NBN takes aim at satellite broadband leechers

    Says no plans to police network for copyright infringement.
    Allie Coyne Sep 29 2015 9:55AM Telco/ISP
    NBN awards second set of FTTx build contracts

    NBN awards second set of FTTx build contracts

    Telstra decides not to bid for work.
    Juha Saarinen Sep 28 2015 10:39AM Telco/ISP
    NBN forced to spend big to overhaul inadequate IT systems

    NBN forced to spend big to overhaul inadequate IT systems

    Workforce management platform contributed to budget blowout.
    Andrew Sadauskas Sep 23 2015 11:49AM Telco/ISP
    NBN's fibre-to-the-node services go live

    NBN's fibre-to-the-node services go live

    Promises switchovers without an on-site appointment.
    Andrew Sadauskas Sep 21 2015 11:13AM Telco/ISP
    Mitch Fifield named Australia's new Communications Minister

    Mitch Fifield named Australia's new Communications Minister

    Turnbull reveals new cabinet.
    Allie Coyne Sep 20 2015 3:57PM Telco/ISP
    Service Stream scores five-year NBN contract

    Service Stream scores five-year NBN contract

    Projects cover MTM build in Victoria.
    Andrew Sadauskas Sep 17 2015 6:16PM Telco/ISP
    NBN wants to cut access costs for smaller ISPs

    NBN wants to cut access costs for smaller ISPs

    PoI plan angers big telcos.
    Allie Coyne Sep 16 2015 12:05PM Telco/ISP
    Turnbull steps down as Communications Minister

    Turnbull steps down as Communications Minister

    Vacates position ahead of leadership contest.
    Allie Coyne Sep 14 2015 4:26PM Telco/ISP

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