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 opens FTTC-to-FTTP upgrade offer to 160,000 premises

    NBN Co opens FTTC-to-FTTP upgrade offer to 160,000 premises

    Hopes to cover a million premises by year-end.
    Richard Chirgwin Jun 3 2022 10:18AM Telco/ISP
    Top five RSPs ask ACCC to set NBN prices

    Top five RSPs ask ACCC to set NBN prices

    As confidence and patience in negotiated process is lost.
    Ry Crozier May 26 2022 8:41AM Telco/ISP
    Superloop buys Acurus for $15 million

    Superloop buys Acurus for $15 million

    Entering the white label ISP market.
    Richard Chirgwin May 25 2022 12:41PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to cut 160 applications under $200m IT simplification

    NBN Co to cut 160 applications under $200m IT simplification

    First savings from the program realised.
    Ry Crozier May 24 2022 12:06PM Telco/ISP
    NAB bulks up its digital, data and analytics talent

    NAB bulks up its digital, data and analytics talent

    NBN Co’s chief data officer and CommBank’s general manager set to join the bank.
    Kate Weber May 24 2022 6:49AM Financial Services
    NBN Co sizes up six-figure customer exodus a year to fixed wireless

    NBN Co sizes up six-figure customer exodus a year to fixed wireless

    Ratchets up regulatory pressure.
    Ry Crozier May 24 2022 6:30AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co's basic broadband price could double by 2040

    NBN Co's basic broadband price could double by 2040

    If ACCC signs off on a price model change.
    Ry Crozier May 23 2022 6:39PM Telco/ISP
    What to expect from the incoming Labor government

    What to expect from the incoming Labor government

    Analysis: Ambitious agenda for tech, telco.
    Justin Hendry May 23 2022 12:23PM Strategy
    TPG Telecom adds G.Fast to its FTTB network

    TPG Telecom adds G.Fast to its FTTB network

    Promises near-gigabit download speeds.
    Richard Chirgwin May 19 2022 12:38PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co's 250Mbps and gigabit growth is finally clear

    NBN Co's 250Mbps and gigabit growth is finally clear

    Analysis: Who paid for a speed upgrade when the promotional pricing ended.
    Ry Crozier May 19 2022 12:28PM Telco/ISP
    Vocus urges incoming government to refocus NBN policy

    Vocus urges incoming government to refocus NBN policy

    Also starts preparing to separate its retail business.
    Ry Crozier May 3 2022 10:20AM Telco/ISP
    Konica Minolta responds to pandemic with hybrid workplace

    Konica Minolta responds to pandemic with hybrid workplace

    Changes will be permanent, says CIO.
    Richard Chirgwin Apr 22 2022 6:47AM Cloud
    The Greens pledge free NBN for low-income households

    The Greens pledge free NBN for low-income households

    Address broadband affordability.
    Staff Writers Apr 20 2022 6:28AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co has to rewrite its own rules to be publishable

    NBN Co has to rewrite its own rules to be publishable

    SAU variation sent back due to redactions.
    Ry Crozier Apr 14 2022 11:47AM Telco/ISP
    Labor pledges $650m-plus for regional communications

    Labor pledges $650m-plus for regional communications

    Will fit Australia Post vehicles with mobile signal measuring devices.
    Staff Writer Apr 6 2022 8:39AM Telco/ISP
    Telstra announces regional review response, adds more non-metro support

    Telstra announces regional review response, adds more non-metro support

    Invests an extra $75 million.
    Richard Chirgwin Apr 6 2022 6:40AM Telco/ISP
    Outage hits Optus mobile network

    Outage hits Optus mobile network

    Some NBN voice services, and resellers, also hit by four-hour outage.
    Staff Writer Apr 5 2022 10:01AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co gets 250 orders in first week of FTTN-P upgrades being offered

    NBN Co gets 250 orders in first week of FTTN-P upgrades being offered

    Confirms it will stick to caretaker conventions during election period.
    Ry Crozier Apr 1 2022 11:19AM Telco/ISP
    Regional telco review lags on digital equity

    Regional telco review lags on digital equity

    Public safety gets a nod.
    Natalie Apostolou Apr 1 2022 6:30AM Telco/ISP
    Gov puts low-income broadband issue back on NBN Co

    Gov puts low-income broadband issue back on NBN Co

    In response to regional telco review.
    Ry Crozier Mar 31 2022 12:25PM Telco/ISP

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