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.

    • IAG hires ex-NBN CIO as new IT chief

    IAG hires ex-NBN CIO as new IT chief

    Claire Rawlins joins insurance group.
    Allie Coyne Aug 7 2015 6:36AM Strategy
    NBN to spend $40m training 4500 network workers

    NBN to spend $40m training 4500 network workers

    Experienced telco techies sought to mentor younger workers.
    Juha Saarinen Aug 3 2015 6:48AM Telco/ISP
    Optus joins telco fury over govt wholesale access intervention

    Optus joins telco fury over govt wholesale access intervention

    TPG wants cheaper copper now to compete with NBN.
    Juha Saarinen Jul 27 2015 6:26AM Telco/ISP
    Turnbull's dept backs Telstra in ACCC price fight

    Turnbull's dept backs Telstra in ACCC price fight

    10 percent wholesale price drop would hurt sector, NBN.
    Allie Coyne Jul 23 2015 7:17AM Telco/ISP
    Rural dwellers employ elaborate setups for internet

    Rural dwellers employ elaborate setups for internet

    Review submissions raise satellite concerns.
    Andrew Sadauskas Jul 7 2015 7:35AM Telco/ISP
    NBN to offer TV connections through fibre for greenfields

    NBN to offer TV connections through fibre for greenfields

    Ditching aerials to come at a cost.
    Allie Coyne Jul 1 2015 2:00PM Telco/ISP
    NBN lumped with new data sharing rules despite opposition

    NBN lumped with new data sharing rules despite opposition

    Govt seeks to limit Telstra advantage.
    Allie Coyne Jun 30 2015 11:32AM Telco/ISP
    Turnbull's NBN gets ACCC green light

    Turnbull's NBN gets ACCC green light

    Wholesale HFC offering on track for 2016 launch.
    Andrew Sadauskas Jun 26 2015 9:36AM Telco/ISP
    Thicker NBN aerial cables to face community opposition

    Thicker NBN aerial cables to face community opposition

    Overhead cable proposal 'rides roughshod' over councils.
    Andrew Sadauskas Jun 16 2015 11:17AM Telco/ISP
    NBN makes contractors fight for six-month packets of work

    NBN makes contractors fight for six-month packets of work

    Builds KPIs into new rollout contracts.
    Allie Coyne Jun 10 2015 2:37PM Telco/ISP
    NBN hits million premises mark

    NBN hits million premises mark

    First of three targets met.
    Staff Writers Jun 3 2015 12:52PM Telco/ISP
    NBN on track to reach million premises milestone

    NBN on track to reach million premises milestone

    Losses climb as rollout grows.
    Andrew Colley May 27 2015 12:34PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra named Australia's most complained about telco

    Telstra named Australia's most complained about telco

    Vodafone turnaround pays off, Optus continues bad run.
    Allie Coyne May 14 2015 3:43PM Telco/ISP
    ISPs back new rules for NBN data sharing

    ISPs back new rules for NBN data sharing

    Licence condition to limit Telstra's advantage.
    Allie Coyne May 13 2015 4:20PM Telco/ISP
    Govt outlines planned telco tax for satellite, wireless NBN

    Govt outlines planned telco tax for satellite, wireless NBN

    Cross-subsidising must go.
    Juha Saarinen May 11 2015 12:50PM Telco/ISP
    NBN considers extra charges for regional satellite users

    NBN considers extra charges for regional satellite users

    Costs for missed appointments, late cancellations.
    Allie Coyne May 4 2015 11:39AM Telco/ISP
    TPG beats NBN in court case over FTTB

    TPG beats NBN in court case over FTTB

    Telco can legally access and draw power from existing sockets.
    Allie Coyne Apr 28 2015 2:38PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co ditches the 'co' from name

    NBN Co ditches the 'co' from name

    Rebranding sees name change to 'NBN'.
    Allie Coyne Apr 24 2015 4:31PM Strategy
    NBN Co reveals active service dates for 1000-node trial sites

    NBN Co reveals active service dates for 1000-node trial sites

    First regions to go live in September.
    Allie Coyne Apr 21 2015 2:13PM Telco/ISP
    Optus considers breaking net neutrality in Australia

    Optus considers breaking net neutrality in Australia

    May charge Netflix, OTT providers for premium service.
    Andrew Colley Apr 20 2015 11:52AM Telco/ISP

    Log In

      |  Forgot your password?