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 to charge developers for fibre

    NBN Co to charge developers for fibre

    $300 passed on to end-users.
    Allie Coyne Dec 11 2014 1:43PM Telco/ISP
    Govt ditches uniform wholesale network pricing

    Govt ditches uniform wholesale network pricing

    Responds to Vertigan recommendations.
    Paris Cowan Dec 11 2014 1:30PM Telco/ISP
    ITU finalises gigabit over copper lines standard

    ITU finalises gigabit over copper lines standard

    Promises "fibre-like" speeds within 400 metres.
    Juha Saarinen Dec 8 2014 12:12PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co cuts back targets in new construction plan

    NBN Co cuts back targets in new construction plan

    Reveals which areas will get full-strength fibre.
    Allie Coyne Dec 1 2014 6:30AM Telco/ISP
    Lundy to stay in touch with tech beyond politics

    Lundy to stay in touch with tech beyond politics

    Senator won't re-contest upper house seat.
    Paris Cowan Nov 27 2014 2:14PM Training & Development
    NBN Co cuts CVC pricing for RSPs

    NBN Co cuts CVC pricing for RSPs

    Commits to 12.5 percent reduction.
    Allie Coyne Nov 26 2014 2:20PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co won't shadow TPG for basement fibre

    NBN Co won't shadow TPG for basement fibre

    Works to boost MDU rollout.
    Andrew Colley Nov 20 2014 1:00PM Telco/ISP
    Huawei claims 100Mbps possible over 800m copper lines

    Huawei claims 100Mbps possible over 800m copper lines

    SuperVector ekes out more performance.
    Juha Saarinen Nov 19 2014 5:47AM Telco/ISP
    State of NBN too uncertain for full corporate plan

    State of NBN too uncertain for full corporate plan

    NBN Co releases figures for FY2015.
    Allie Coyne Nov 17 2014 11:25AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co reveals new broadband mix

    NBN Co reveals new broadband mix

    FTTP relegated to the backbench.
    Allie Coyne Nov 13 2014 3:23PM Telco/ISP
    Investors attack ACCC over NBN advice

    Investors attack ACCC over NBN advice

    Regulator hits back at NBN policy audit.
    Allie Coyne Nov 13 2014 6:33AM Telco/ISP
    Nextgen ditches NBN virtual connect product

    Nextgen ditches NBN virtual connect product

    Claims NBN system upgrade will force huge costs.
    Allie Coyne Nov 7 2014 6:46AM Telco/ISP
    Former ACCC head warns content is the new telco battleground

    Former ACCC head warns content is the new telco battleground

    Calls Scales NBN report ‘insulting’.
    Allie Coyne Nov 5 2014 4:33PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co expects Telstra deal to be signed by Christmas

    NBN Co expects Telstra deal to be signed by Christmas

    Rubber stamp likely in early 2015.
    Allie Coyne Oct 23 2014 2:47PM Telco/ISP
    TIO reports for the first time on NBN complaints

    TIO reports for the first time on NBN complaints

    Connection delays top list, while excess mobile data charges dominate overall.
    Allie Coyne Oct 23 2014 7:00AM Telco/ISP
    ACCC to exclude NBN payments from Telstra wholesale pricing

    ACCC to exclude NBN payments from Telstra wholesale pricing

    Decision likely to anger rivals.
    Allie Coyne Oct 22 2014 11:09AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co names first 140 FTTN sites

    NBN Co names first 140 FTTN sites

    National trial extended.
    Allie Coyne Oct 20 2014 9:13AM Telco/ISP
    Govt offers up draft FTTB wholesale conditions

    Govt offers up draft FTTB wholesale conditions

    Rules to counter TPG threat to NBN.
    Allie Coyne Oct 15 2014 11:42AM Telco/ISP
    Telstra pushes for seven percent wholesale price hike

    Telstra pushes for seven percent wholesale price hike

    Optus wants NBN payments to be considered.
    Allie Coyne Oct 13 2014 10:42AM Telco/ISP
    Optus chair sees BT's Openreach as model for Telstra split

    Optus chair sees BT's Openreach as model for Telstra split

    Calls for new ACCC powers to address threat to competition.
    Allie Coyne Oct 8 2014 3:09PM Telco/ISP

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