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.

    • 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
    NBN Co downgrades FTTP rollout

    NBN Co downgrades FTTP rollout

    Updated: Fibre to the home revised down 2 percent.
    Allie Coyne Apr 14 2014 2:19PM Telco/ISP
    TPG reveals NBN plans

    TPG reveals NBN plans

    Company continues building out FTTB.
    Allie Coyne Apr 11 2014 11:29AM Telco/ISP
    Morrow ditches three top NBN execs

    Morrow ditches three top NBN execs

    Organisation restructure to address five 'critical' issues.
    Allie Coyne Apr 10 2014 1:23PM Telco/ISP
    Turnbull gives NBN Co green light to continue MTM build

    Turnbull gives NBN Co green light to continue MTM build

    Reveals 'coverage gap' for Sydney, Melbourne outskirts.
    Allie Coyne Apr 9 2014 10:24AM Telco/ISP
    Banks call for end to regulatory burden on technology

    Banks call for end to regulatory burden on technology

    Want room to innovate.
    Allie Coyne Apr 9 2014 6:43AM Financial Services
    Telstra calls on industry to fix NBN migration headaches

    Telstra calls on industry to fix NBN migration headaches

    Comms Alliance needs to address 'industry-wide failure'.
    Allie Coyne Apr 8 2014 10:35AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co misses construction plan deadline

    NBN Co misses construction plan deadline

    Access seekers in the dark on rollout plans.
    Staff Writers Apr 6 2014 8:59PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co reveals start date of FTTN trial

    NBN Co reveals start date of FTTN trial

    Releases new product roadmap.
    Allie Coyne Apr 3 2014 2:17PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to subsidise satellite costs for 9000 users

    NBN Co to subsidise satellite costs for 9000 users

    Clogged ISS forces users to commercial scheme.
    Allie Coyne Apr 3 2014 9:37AM Telco/ISP
    NBN should be all fibre: NICTA boss

    NBN should be all fibre: NICTA boss

    Red tape also holding back progress.
    Munir Kotadia Apr 3 2014 6:35AM Networking
    NBN strategic review 'inaccurate, unreliable’, says Senate committee

    NBN strategic review 'inaccurate, unreliable’, says Senate committee

    But Coalition members decry "self-serving recommendations".
    Allie Coyne Mar 26 2014 5:25PM Telco/ISP
    Turnbull pours $18.4m into NBN satellite service

    Turnbull pours $18.4m into NBN satellite service

    Capacity to be upgraded for existing users.
    Allie Coyne Mar 25 2014 3:55PM Telco/ISP
    TPG's FTTB build enters construction mode

    TPG's FTTB build enters construction mode

    NSW, Vic, Qld first up.
    Allie Coyne Mar 25 2014 11:27AM Telco/ISP
    TPG lobbies Govt to keep FTTB loophole

    TPG lobbies Govt to keep FTTB loophole

    Says efforts won't threaten NBN.
    Allie Coyne Mar 18 2014 1:29PM Telco/ISP
    Labor NBN should have had cost-benefit analysis: Productivity Commission

    Labor NBN should have had cost-benefit analysis: Productivity Commission

    Taxpayers now face higher costs, report claims.
    Allie Coyne Mar 13 2014 3:45PM Telco/ISP

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