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 throws resources at held service order backlog

    NBN Co throws resources at held service order backlog

    More workers on board to clear tricky orders.
    Allie Coyne Feb 27 2014 6:08AM Telco/ISP
    Conroy accuses NBN Co of cooking rollout estimates

    Conroy accuses NBN Co of cooking rollout estimates

    Setting the bar "as low as a pencil on the floor".
    Paris Cowan Feb 25 2014 1:33PM Telco/ISP
    iiNet to sign NBN Co access agreement

    iiNet to sign NBN Co access agreement

    Telco provider comes around.
    Allie Coyne Feb 20 2014 1:20PM Telco/ISP
    iiNet adds 23,000 new NBN, fibre customers

    iiNet adds 23,000 new NBN, fibre customers

    Posts 19 percent jump in profit in last half.
    Allie Coyne Feb 20 2014 10:06AM Telco/ISP
    Gigabit Google Fibre expands to 34 more US cities

    Gigabit Google Fibre expands to 34 more US cities

    Partners with local governments.
    Juha Saarinen Feb 20 2014 5:16AM Telco/ISP
    Tasmania offers NBN Co free access to power poles for fibre

    Tasmania offers NBN Co free access to power poles for fibre

    Worth $25 million.
    Allie Coyne Feb 18 2014 2:00PM Telco/ISP
    NBN panel questions role of ACCC in telecoms regulation

    NBN panel questions role of ACCC in telecoms regulation

    Who should handle pricing and regulation?
    Brian Corrigan Feb 14 2014 2:02PM Telco/ISP
    Tasmanians miss out on all-fibre NBN

    Tasmanians miss out on all-fibre NBN

    Update: Contracts don't specify FTTP, Switkowski says.
    Allie Coyne Feb 13 2014 9:36AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to fast-track technicians into rollout

    NBN Co to fast-track technicians into rollout

    Skip formal training.
    Staff Writers Feb 13 2014 6:50AM Training & Development
    NBN Co loses construction boss

    NBN Co loses construction boss

    Third in three years.
    Allie Coyne Feb 11 2014 6:05PM Telco/ISP
    Public perception of NBN very positive: study

    Public perception of NBN very positive: study

    But media representations of NBN "overwhelmingly negative".
    Juha Saarinen Feb 7 2014 5:33AM Telco/ISP
    Malcolm's dilemma: Australians love fibre-to-the-home

    Malcolm's dilemma: Australians love fibre-to-the-home

    [Blog post] Trying to make sense of the Coalition's backflip on competition.
    Ry Crozier Feb 5 2014 11:48AM Telco/ISP
    Tas aerial NBN plan well received, says Aurora

    Tas aerial NBN plan well received, says Aurora

    Awaits formal response.
    Ry Crozier Feb 4 2014 2:34PM Telco/ISP
    Last drinks for NBN provisioning nirvana

    Last drinks for NBN provisioning nirvana

    Analysis: ISPs concerned about integration overhead for Malcolm's MTM.
    Ry Crozier Feb 4 2014 6:45AM Telco/ISP
    Councils speak out as NBN plans unravel

    Councils speak out as NBN plans unravel

    Shared IT, digital visions fall apart.
    Ry Crozier Feb 3 2014 12:52PM Telco/ISP
    Optus to handle NBN satellite operations

    Optus to handle NBN satellite operations

    Multi-year deal secured.
    Ry Crozier Feb 3 2014 1:01AM Telco/ISP
    Hackett brings social equity focus to NBN Co

    Hackett brings social equity focus to NBN Co

    Urges community benefit outlook.
    Ry Crozier Jan 29 2014 12:42PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co's fibre "ramp-up" is pure fantasy

    NBN Co's fibre "ramp-up" is pure fantasy

    [Blog post] The numbers say a slowdown, so why can't NBN Co?
    Ry Crozier Jan 29 2014 6:31AM Telco/ISP
    iiNet, Internode steer clear of NBN agreement

    iiNet, Internode steer clear of NBN agreement

    Telstra and Optus sign, but major player holds out.
    Ry Crozier Jan 16 2014 12:43PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co turns corner in SA fibre rollout

    NBN Co turns corner in SA fibre rollout

    Erases memory of delays.
    Ry Crozier Jan 16 2014 6:45AM Telco/ISP

    Log In

      |  Forgot your password?