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 deputy chair departs to contractor

    NBN Co deputy chair departs to contractor

    Steps down to avoid 'perceived conflict of interest'.
    Allie Coyne Sep 2 2013 12:15PM Strategy
    Coalition to update existing Labor IT policy

    Coalition to update existing Labor IT policy

    Formal announcement later today.
    Juha Saarinen Sep 2 2013 6:51AM Strategy
    NBN Co reins in rollout transparency

    NBN Co reins in rollout transparency

    [Blog post] Fresh wave of data files removed from website.
    Ry Crozier Aug 30 2013 3:57PM Telco/ISP
    iiNet drops 20GB NBN satellite plan on congestion fears

    iiNet drops 20GB NBN satellite plan on congestion fears

    Cites service quality.
    Ry Crozier Aug 28 2013 10:18AM Telco/ISP
    Coalition won't pay extra for Telstra copper

    Coalition won't pay extra for Telstra copper

    Covered by definitive agreements.
    Ry Crozier Aug 28 2013 9:54AM Telco/ISP
    Chorus posts profit despite NBN hit

    Chorus posts profit despite NBN hit

    Tougher times ahead.
    Juha Saarinen Aug 26 2013 8:19AM Telco/ISP
    Companies told to look to Asia for copper switch-off lessons

    Companies told to look to Asia for copper switch-off lessons

    Start NBN planning now.
    Staff Writers Aug 26 2013 6:45AM Networking
    Trigger point

    Trigger point

    Launching NBN Co’s plans for the enterprise.
    Aug 22 2013 2:32PM
    ACCC pushes back NBN Co notice again

    ACCC pushes back NBN Co notice again

    Election gets in the way.
    Ry Crozier Aug 21 2013 3:59PM Telco/ISP
    iiNet pulls in 12,000 NBN fibre customers

    iiNet pulls in 12,000 NBN fibre customers

    Surpasses 20,000 total connections on new network.
    Ry Crozier Aug 21 2013 10:45AM Telco/ISP
    Telstra expands NBN range with fixed wireless

    Telstra expands NBN range with fixed wireless

    Plans full 25/5 Mbps service next month.
    Ry Crozier Aug 16 2013 3:43PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co kills tracking of unserviceable premises

    NBN Co kills tracking of unserviceable premises

    Weekly progress now impossible to determine.
    Ry Crozier Aug 16 2013 6:44AM Telco/ISP
    Turnbull's NBN policy 'detailed enough' to escape costing

    Turnbull's NBN policy 'detailed enough' to escape costing

    Sees no value-add from independent financial analysis.
    Allie Coyne Aug 16 2013 6:34AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co leaks 14 fibre locations

    NBN Co leaks 14 fibre locations

    Beyond the three-year plan.
    Ry Crozier Aug 15 2013 12:01PM Telco/ISP
    Coalition expects mobile telcos to match blackspot funds

    Coalition expects mobile telcos to match blackspot funds

    Pot of funds offered to carriers, at a price.
    Ry Crozier Aug 13 2013 12:29PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co doubles Telstra liability to $1.8bn

    NBN Co doubles Telstra liability to $1.8bn

    Network scale-out continues.
    Ry Crozier Aug 13 2013 10:40AM Telco/ISP
    Voters lose in Albanese vs Turnbull showdown

    Voters lose in Albanese vs Turnbull showdown

    Comment: The NBN debate wash-up.
    Ry Crozier Aug 13 2013 6:39AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co funds enterprise test lab

    NBN Co funds enterprise test lab

    'Plug Bench' to test copper services on fibre network.
    Brett Winterford Aug 13 2013 6:35AM Networking
    The facts behind News Corp vs the NBN

    The facts behind News Corp vs the NBN

    Opinion: It's not about fast broadband.
    Emma Dawson Aug 9 2013 6:45AM Telco/ISP
    Telstra sees first $7m in copper disconnection fees

    Telstra sees first $7m in copper disconnection fees

    NBN income just under $400m.
    Ry Crozier Aug 8 2013 10:37AM Telco/ISP

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