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.

    • Exetel joins NBN pricing fray

    Exetel joins NBN pricing fray

    Pricing to stay until 2013.
    Staff Writers Jul 25 2011 2:37PM Telco/ISP
    Dodo eyes sub-$40 NBN internet service

    Dodo eyes sub-$40 NBN internet service

    Unlimited plans to remain.
    James Hutchinson Jul 22 2011 2:44PM Telco/ISP
    Analysts cast doubt on Turnbull's NBN

    Analysts cast doubt on Turnbull's NBN

    Four-year minimum delay in Coalition plan.
    James Hutchinson Jul 22 2011 6:45AM Telco/ISP
    Internode reveals retail NBN prices

    Internode reveals retail NBN prices

    Updated: Best value at $100 a month.
    James Hutchinson , Ry Crozier Jul 21 2011 3:04PM Telco/ISP
    Doorknocker offers fake NBN services in Hobart

    Doorknocker offers fake NBN services in Hobart

    Offers 20 Mbps services to stage three sites ahead of construction.
    James Hutchinson Jul 15 2011 12:33PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co snags remaining LTE spectrum

    NBN Co snags remaining LTE spectrum

    Northern Queensland most expensive for radio.
    James Hutchinson Jul 14 2011 5:57AM Telco/ISP
    Vint Cerf calls for clarity in NBN cost data

    Vint Cerf calls for clarity in NBN cost data

    Google VP urges Australian Government to develop global case study.
    Kim McDonald Jul 8 2011 6:00AM Telco/ISP
    Analysis: Small ISPs jump ship in face of NBN

    Analysis: Small ISPs jump ship in face of NBN

    100K club grows as small guys drop out of the race.
    James Hutchinson Jul 6 2011 9:45PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra forges NBN wholesale 'proof of concept'

    Telstra forges NBN wholesale 'proof of concept'

    Approaches brave new world with caution.
    James Hutchinson Jul 6 2011 3:57PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to train half of workers in 'months'

    NBN Co to train half of workers in 'months'

    Reveals amounts of training the 18,000 workers on the project will receive.
    James Hutchinson Jul 6 2011 1:45PM Telco/ISP
    NBN committee calls for bigger greenfields probe

    NBN committee calls for bigger greenfields probe

    'Missed opportunity' for NBN Co squeeze.
    James Hutchinson Jul 5 2011 6:26AM Telco/ISP
    ISPs to cop blame for false NBN speed claims

    ISPs to cop blame for false NBN speed claims

    Watchdog threatens litigation.
    James Hutchinson Jul 4 2011 7:15AM Telco/ISP
    AAPT meets NBN with expanded network

    AAPT meets NBN with expanded network

    Collaborates with competitors to reach some regional centres.
    James Hutchinson Jul 1 2011 12:28PM Telco/ISP
    Tasmanian NBN cabling stays overhead

    Tasmanian NBN cabling stays overhead

    Country town stuck with electricity poles for now.
    James Hutchinson Jun 30 2011 2:55PM Telco/ISP
    TransACT seeks Conroy's exemption in Canberra expansion

    TransACT seeks Conroy's exemption in Canberra expansion

    Build caught by retroactively-applied NBN legislation.
    James Hutchinson Jun 30 2011 7:34AM Telco/ISP
    Fibre network refresh at NBN-ready councils

    Fibre network refresh at NBN-ready councils

    Armidale looks to displace Telstra as NBN rolls out.
    James Hutchinson Jun 29 2011 6:57AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co taps 'commercial maths' for network design

    NBN Co taps 'commercial maths' for network design

    Algorithms could save $200 a premises.
    Liz Tay Jun 27 2011 12:45PM Telco/ISP
    NBN satellite triallers treated to download spree

    NBN satellite triallers treated to download spree

    Linux torrents queue up as country users welcome city broadband speeds.
    James Hutchinson Jun 27 2011 11:22AM Telco/ISP
    Photos: Skybridge installs NBN satellites

    Photos: Skybridge installs NBN satellites

    As part of the NBN satellite trials initiated this month, 200 existing SkyMesh and HarbourSAT users have had the satellite service installed at their homes. This means more than the ONT box fibre and fixed wireless users get - it's an entirely new satellite dish along with their existing one.
    Jun 27 2011 6:21AM Telco/ISP
    Opinion: Who loses from the Telstra-NBN deal?

    Opinion: Who loses from the Telstra-NBN deal?

    An economist's view of Thodey's gamble.
    David Havyatt Jun 24 2011 10:40AM Telco/ISP

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