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.

    • Telstra reins in nebulous NBN migration talk

    Telstra reins in nebulous NBN migration talk

    'Pull through' option punches above its importance?
    Ry Crozier Mar 22 2013 10:50AM Telco/ISP
    Service Stream undergoes IT overhaul

    Service Stream undergoes IT overhaul

    Rationalises applications, deploys new hardware.
    Allie Coyne Mar 22 2013 7:15AM Strategy
    NBN Co to miss June fibre target

    NBN Co to miss June fibre target

    Three month delay.
    Allie Coyne , Charis Palmer , Ry Crozier Mar 21 2013 4:14PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co's contract crisis

    NBN Co's contract crisis

    Opinion: Is the NBN contractually naive?
    Paul Wallbank Mar 21 2013 7:10AM Telco/ISP
    Conroy skirts commitment to NBN target

    Conroy skirts commitment to NBN target

    Says government is 'seeking more information'.
    Ry Crozier Mar 20 2013 3:13PM Telco/ISP
    Syntheo gives NT back to NBN Co

    Syntheo gives NT back to NBN Co

    Delays force handover.
    Allie Coyne Mar 20 2013 10:02AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co commits millionth premise to rollout plan

    NBN Co commits millionth premise to rollout plan

    Milestone met with maths.
    Ry Crozier Mar 15 2013 3:04PM Telco/ISP
    Visionstream lands NBN contract worth up to $1bn

    Visionstream lands NBN contract worth up to $1bn

    Plots integration of John Holland's comms business.
    Ry Crozier Mar 15 2013 1:18PM Telco/ISP
    Coalition has three options for NBN: report

    Coalition has three options for NBN: report

    Policy needs clarity.
    Allie Coyne Mar 12 2013 3:28PM Networking
    NBN Co fudges numbers to expand rollout

    NBN Co fudges numbers to expand rollout

    How the fibre rollout is slipping.
    Ry Crozier Mar 6 2013 7:45AM Telco/ISP
    'Fibre-like' satellite broadband promised to Australia

    'Fibre-like' satellite broadband promised to Australia

    Service set to outperform NBN satellite.
    Juha Saarinen Mar 5 2013 2:33PM Telco/ISP
    Exetel brings unmetered downloads to NBN plans

    Exetel brings unmetered downloads to NBN plans

    Raises prices after a year of cheap services.
    Ry Crozier Mar 5 2013 8:03AM Telco/ISP
    Coalition stuck with $11bn Telstra-NBN contract value

    Coalition stuck with $11bn Telstra-NBN contract value

    Telstra won't renegotiate contract.
    Allie Coyne Mar 4 2013 12:51PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co satellite launch contract to go to Arianespace

    NBN Co satellite launch contract to go to Arianespace

    Countdown commences.
    Juha Saarinen Mar 4 2013 8:10AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co pilfers from iiNet's technical ranks

    NBN Co pilfers from iiNet's technical ranks

    Perth ISP competes for talent with mines, NBN Co and outsourcers.
    Ry Crozier Mar 1 2013 7:17AM Telco/ISP
    NBN oversight committee trapped in political crossfire

    NBN oversight committee trapped in political crossfire

    Oakeshott warns latest report may be its last.
    Ry Crozier Feb 28 2013 1:56PM Telco/ISP
    Quigley calls for industry to inform NBN debate

    Quigley calls for industry to inform NBN debate

    Comms Alliance undecided on whether to intervene.
    Liz Tay Feb 22 2013 5:23PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co spends $94m on Northern NSW rollout

    NBN Co spends $94m on Northern NSW rollout

    Downer adds to NBN contract cache.
    Joshua Gliddon Feb 15 2013 7:00AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co, strata tie-up to ease fibre into unit blocks

    NBN Co, strata tie-up to ease fibre into unit blocks

    National register.
    Ry Crozier Feb 11 2013 3:30PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra forced to redraw NBN info handling rules

    Telstra forced to redraw NBN info handling rules

    Four of six migration measures knocked back by regulator.
    Ry Crozier Feb 8 2013 1:03PM Telco/ISP

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