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.

    • ACCC’s broadband monitoring plans put on ice

    ACCC’s broadband monitoring plans put on ice

    Updated: Model released regardless.
    Allie Coyne Jun 6 2014 11:13AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co appoints new chief technology officer

    NBN Co appoints new chief technology officer

    New CTO, CFO replace ousted execs.
    Allie Coyne Jun 4 2014 11:33AM Telco/ISP
    Telstra staff still using wholesale data for retail gains

    Telstra staff still using wholesale data for retail gains

    Six more months until systems properly fenced.
    Allie Coyne May 26 2014 6:01PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co prepares to switch off copper for 19,000 premises

    NBN Co prepares to switch off copper for 19,000 premises

    Milestone day tomorrow.
    Allie Coyne May 22 2014 12:10PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra yields to two-hour notice for NBN pull-through

    Telstra yields to two-hour notice for NBN pull-through

    ISPs win on notification timeframe.
    Allie Coyne May 22 2014 10:50AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co extends Visionstream greenfields work

    NBN Co extends Visionstream greenfields work

    Tasmania added to contract.
    Allie Coyne May 20 2014 8:50AM Telco/ISP
    Service Stream wins NBN greenfields extension

    Service Stream wins NBN greenfields extension

    $70m for two more years.
    Allie Coyne May 19 2014 10:06AM Telco/ISP
    Faulty DHCP server downs iiNet NBN, IPTV services

    Faulty DHCP server downs iiNet NBN, IPTV services

    Outage affected users Australia-wide.
    Allie Coyne May 16 2014 5:28PM Telco/ISP
    Feros Care wins new funding for telehealth rollout

    Feros Care wins new funding for telehealth rollout

    Successful NBN pilot leads to ongoing deployment.
    Penny Wolf May 16 2014 12:17PM Networking
    Senate extends life of NBN committee

    Senate extends life of NBN committee

    ‘Robust’ and ‘ongoing’ oversight approved.
    Allie Coyne May 14 2014 5:36PM Telco/ISP
    Canberra’s tech projects handed expiry notice

    Canberra’s tech projects handed expiry notice

    NBN, NICTA to be cut off from the public purse.
    Brett Winterford May 13 2014 9:22PM Training & Development
    NBN Co calls for telco guarantee shakeup

    NBN Co calls for telco guarantee shakeup

    Finds an unlikely ally in iiNet.
    Staff Writers May 13 2014 10:30AM Telco/ISP
    Fibre to the Horizon

    Fibre to the Horizon

    [Blog post] Why we're having the wrong conversation about the NBN.
    Geordie Guy May 13 2014 10:13AM Strategy
    NBN Co releases medium business services

    NBN Co releases medium business services

    Six months behind schedule.
    Juha Saarinen May 13 2014 6:03AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co tips October launch for FTTB product

    NBN Co tips October launch for FTTB product

    Specific apartment blocks to be targeted.
    Allie Coyne May 5 2014 11:45AM Telco/ISP
    Home owners could be hit with NBN kit costs

    Home owners could be hit with NBN kit costs

    Plus lower speeds than ordered.
    Allie Coyne May 5 2014 7:00AM Telco/ISP
    AT&T to roll out fibre-to-the-premise to 21 US cities

    AT&T to roll out fibre-to-the-premise to 21 US cities

    Copper to be replaced in expanded rollout.
    Staff Writers Apr 22 2014 12:18PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra sees red over expanded wholesale regulation

    Telstra sees red over expanded wholesale regulation

    ACCC finds evidence of over-charging in CBDs.
    Allie Coyne Apr 17 2014 1:14PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co boss suggests levy for TPG

    NBN Co boss suggests levy for TPG

    Company reports $1.1 billion loss.
    Allie Coyne Apr 16 2014 11:28AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co drops speed guarantees for FTTN service

    NBN Co drops speed guarantees for FTTN service

    Updated: No responsibility taken for line speeds.
    Juha Saarinen Apr 15 2014 5:37AM Telco/ISP

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