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 formalises user-pays fibre, wireless extensions

    NBN Co formalises user-pays fibre, wireless extensions

    Takes orders from fringe users, communities.
    James Hutchinson Aug 13 2012 7:00AM Telco/ISP
    Internode, Exetel enter Telstra greenfields game

    Internode, Exetel enter Telstra greenfields game

    Updated: Wholesale price squeeze exacerbated.
    James Hutchinson Aug 10 2012 12:32PM Telco/ISP
    Prysmian unveils NBN cable factory

    Prysmian unveils NBN cable factory

    Invests $11m in cable maker.
    Chris Jager Aug 10 2012 7:00AM Networking
    Photos: Prysmian's NBN cable factory

    Photos: Prysmian's NBN cable factory

    Inside the NBN cable making plant.
    Chris Jager Aug 9 2012 12:21PM Networking
    NBN Co's second corporate plan in numbers

    NBN Co's second corporate plan in numbers

    The plan in fun-size.
    Staff Writers Aug 8 2012 8:23PM Telco/ISP
    NBN turns opt-out for future builds

    NBN turns opt-out for future builds

    Updated: But batteries now optional.
    James Hutchinson Aug 8 2012 4:28PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co relocates some points of interconnect

    NBN Co relocates some points of interconnect

    Moves some custom PoIs.
    James Hutchinson Aug 6 2012 2:17PM Networking
    NBN Co opens app testing sandpit

    NBN Co opens app testing sandpit

    Mulls third-party battery backup.
    James Hutchinson Jul 26 2012 7:00AM Telco/ISP
    Telstra plots wholesale systems upgrade

    Telstra plots wholesale systems upgrade

    Huge-scale data cleansing exercise.
    Ry Crozier Jul 20 2012 1:41PM Telco/ISP
    No-frills NBN provider aims for the tech savvy

    No-frills NBN provider aims for the tech savvy

    Engineers form members-only utility.
    James Hutchinson Jul 20 2012 1:00PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co clears final ACCC hurdle on Optus deal

    NBN Co clears final ACCC hurdle on Optus deal

    But not everyone is happy.
    Ry Crozier Jul 20 2012 12:00AM Telco/ISP
    Australia slips in broadband rankings

    Australia slips in broadband rankings

    Fixed broadband penetration stagnant.
    Juha Saarinen Jul 19 2012 6:52AM Telco/ISP
    Telstra to gain $8b under coalition plan: analysts

    Telstra to gain $8b under coalition plan: analysts

    ‘Less threatening’ plan a boon for telco
    James Hutchinson Jul 13 2012 12:41PM Telco/ISP
    Viasat to build NBN satellite stations

    Viasat to build NBN satellite stations

    Litigation of no concern, NBN Co says.
    James Hutchinson Jul 12 2012 1:52PM Telco/ISP
    NBN confirms third satellite station

    NBN confirms third satellite station

    Negotiations continue on others.
    James Hutchinson Jun 29 2012 12:16PM Telco/ISP
    New Zealand NBN lags take-up targets

    New Zealand NBN lags take-up targets

    Opposition slams slow broadband rollout.
    Juha Saarinen Jun 29 2012 12:15PM Telco/ISP
    NBN committee eyes sooner debt funding

    NBN committee eyes sooner debt funding

    $13.4 billion now, not later.
    James Hutchinson Jun 26 2012 7:00AM Financial Services
    NBN Co scales back 30-year regulation

    NBN Co scales back 30-year regulation

    Second crack at undertaking.
    James Hutchinson Jun 21 2012 7:00AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co ditches Fujitsu for greenfield work

    NBN Co ditches Fujitsu for greenfield work

    Visionstream, Service Stream handed more work.
    James Hutchinson Jun 20 2012 10:28AM Telco/ISP
    BT mulls network changes for WA expansion

    BT mulls network changes for WA expansion

    Booming energy sector draws attention.
    Ry Crozier Jun 15 2012 7:17AM Networking

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