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 keeps initial products under ISP scrutiny

    NBN Co keeps initial products under ISP scrutiny

    Unintended catch-all in special access clause.
    Ry Crozier Dec 7 2012 12:29PM Telco/ISP
    NBN trials multicast delivery in Rhodes

    NBN trials multicast delivery in Rhodes

    Three ISPs and 50 dwellings involved.
    Joshua Gliddon Dec 7 2012 11:00AM Telco/ISP
    Australians love mobile internet

    Australians love mobile internet

    Smartphones reach another quarter of adults.
    Joshua Gliddon Dec 6 2012 12:36PM Networking
    Jim Hassell departs NBN Co

    Jim Hassell departs NBN Co

    Heads back to Broadcast Australia.
    Joshua Gliddon Dec 6 2012 10:53AM Training & Development
    Regulatory decision 'threatens' New Zealand's NBN

    Regulatory decision 'threatens' New Zealand's NBN

    Telco regulator pleases no-one.
    Juha Saarinen Dec 4 2012 7:47AM Telco/ISP
    Service Stream nabs $180m Telstra network repair works

    Service Stream nabs $180m Telstra network repair works

    Preparation of pit-and-pipe for an NBN world.
    Ry Crozier Dec 3 2012 4:53PM Telco/ISP
    NZ Govt to review wholesale broadband price decisions

    NZ Govt to review wholesale broadband price decisions

    Copper cost cuts in the age of fibre.
    Juha Saarinen Dec 3 2012 8:00AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co still in stoush over NSW power poles

    NBN Co still in stoush over NSW power poles

    Interim agreement in some regional areas set to expire.
    Joshua Gliddon Nov 28 2012 3:50PM Telco/ISP
    iiNet snares one in three NBN fibre users

    iiNet snares one in three NBN fibre users

    Counts more fibre users in total than the NBN.
    Joshua Gliddon Nov 27 2012 4:03PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra faces probe on NBN data disclosure plan

    Telstra faces probe on NBN data disclosure plan

    ACCC scrutinises Chinese wall between retail and wholesale arms.
    Ry Crozier Nov 23 2012 1:25PM Telco/ISP
    Internode goes NBN for voice

    Internode goes NBN for voice

    Ends year-long trial.
    Joshua Gliddon Nov 23 2012 11:02AM Telco/ISP
    Telstra wholesale system upgrade delayed

    Telstra wholesale system upgrade delayed

    Struggles with IT complexity.
    Ry Crozier Nov 16 2012 12:29PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra's NBN retraining open to more workers

    Telstra's NBN retraining open to more workers

    Carrier can stretch $100m deed beyond initial 6500 staff.
    Ry Crozier Nov 2 2012 12:41PM Training & Development
    NBN Co taps former Telstra chief as CIO

    NBN Co taps former Telstra chief as CIO

    NBN Co will need to eat its own dogfood.
    Joshua Gliddon Oct 31 2012 2:42PM Strategy
    NBN Co turns to Telco Act in NSW pole dispute

    NBN Co turns to Telco Act in NSW pole dispute

    Invokes Schedule 3 carrier powers.
    Ry Crozier Oct 31 2012 7:15AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co close to finalising MDU cabling contractor

    NBN Co close to finalising MDU cabling contractor

    Considers extending existing relationship.
    Ry Crozier Oct 31 2012 6:36AM Telco/ISP
    NSW, Feds to face off in court over NBN

    NSW, Feds to face off in court over NBN

    Updated: Dispute over access to power poles.
    Joshua Gliddon Oct 29 2012 1:53PM Telco/ISP
    iiNet lays path to reverse TransACT customer animosity

    iiNet lays path to reverse TransACT customer animosity

    In a 'different ballpark' to what it faced with AAPT.
    Ry Crozier Oct 26 2012 12:00PM Telco/ISP
    Huawei wants cyber security test centre

    Huawei wants cyber security test centre

    Spying reports driven by protectionism rather than security, Lord claims.
    John Hilvert Oct 25 2012 12:58PM Security
    Huawei calls for cyber security test centre

    Huawei calls for cyber security test centre

    Spying reports driven by protectionism rather than security, Lord claims.
    John Hilvert Oct 24 2012 2:16PM Security

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