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.

    • Telcos saved from USO levy increases

    Telcos saved from USO levy increases

    Industry levy flat for next two years.
    James Hutchinson Jun 23 2011 3:15PM Telco/ISP
    Turnbull bemoans high cost of Telstra-NBN deal

    Turnbull bemoans high cost of Telstra-NBN deal

    Coalition keeps the fight for fibre-to-the-node.
    Staff Writers Jun 23 2011 12:48PM Telco/ISP
    Optus signs $800m NBN Co deal

    Optus signs $800m NBN Co deal

    Optus to decommission cable network in some areas as customers are migrated.
    James Hutchinson Jun 23 2011 10:19AM Telco/ISP
    Conroy offers NBN cash for local governments

    Conroy offers NBN cash for local governments

    Federal Government calls for better local government online services.
    Staff Writers Jun 22 2011 11:40AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co outsources IT service desk

    NBN Co outsources IT service desk

    Fujitsu lands second major NBN deal.
    James Hutchinson Jun 21 2011 11:49AM Hardware
    Productivity Commission investigates NBN Co

    Productivity Commission investigates NBN Co

    Probes greenfields role.
    James Hutchinson Jun 20 2011 6:47AM Telco/ISP
    Turnbull tests NBN Co-pays amendment for greenfields

    Turnbull tests NBN Co-pays amendment for greenfields

    Fork out for ownership of passive infrastructure and third-party fibre.
    James Hutchinson , John Hilvert Jun 17 2011 6:10PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Estimates stalls on Alcatel row

    NBN Estimates stalls on Alcatel row

    Forcibly adjourned to halt heated argument.
    Ry Crozier Jun 17 2011 8:47AM Telco/ISP
    Platform Networks makes NBN connections

    Platform Networks makes NBN connections

    Five service providers test sub-wholesale service.
    James Hutchinson Jun 16 2011 1:48PM Telco/ISP
    New AAPT chief eyes network aggregation, IaaS

    New AAPT chief eyes network aggregation, IaaS

    Bundled virtual server product takes off.
    Ry Crozier Jun 16 2011 12:59PM Telco/ISP
    Tasmanian public schools locked out of NBN

    Tasmanian public schools locked out of NBN

    By their existing contracts and security concerns.
    James Hutchinson Jun 16 2011 7:11AM Telco/ISP
    Nextgen first with NBN wholesale

    Nextgen first with NBN wholesale

    Aggregates NBN access, backhaul at 90 points of presence.
    James Hutchinson Jun 14 2011 2:22PM Telco/ISP
    Photos: Landcom estate among first to get NBN fibre

    Photos: Landcom estate among first to get NBN fibre

    iTnews takes a tour as fibre reticulation gets underway.
    James Hutchinson Jun 14 2011 7:02AM Telco/ISP
    Opinion: Running the ruler over NBN Co's procurement

    Opinion: Running the ruler over NBN Co's procurement

    David Havyatt asks whether the governance structure stands up to the task.
    David Havyatt Jun 10 2011 7:35AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co trials new housing estate broadband in August

    NBN Co trials new housing estate broadband in August

    Selected ISPs to run services.
    James Hutchinson Jun 10 2011 7:17AM Telco/ISP
    Landcom estate lays pipes for NBN fibre

    Landcom estate lays pipes for NBN fibre

    iTnews takes you to Landcom's Ashton Grove development in Maitland, NSW where subcontractors are building the pit-and-pipe infrastructure required for NBN fibre. It will become one of the first greenfield sites to have active NBN services.
    Jun 9 2011 8:32PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co, Telstra reach greenfields ceasefire

    NBN Co, Telstra reach greenfields ceasefire

    Create conduit ownership policy.
    James Hutchinson Jun 8 2011 2:27PM Telco/ISP
    Redcore buys Planwell

    Redcore buys Planwell

    Focus on managed security services in the cloud.
    David Binning Jun 8 2011 11:17AM Security
    Victorian Govt raises NBN design concerns

    Victorian Govt raises NBN design concerns

    Emergency scrutiny.
    Ry Crozier Jun 3 2011 6:01AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co eyes faster wireless speeds over LTE

    NBN Co eyes faster wireless speeds over LTE

    12 Mbps a taste for what's to come.
    James Hutchinson Jun 2 2011 6:49AM Telco/ISP

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