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.

    • Conroy launches Digital Economy Strategy

    Conroy launches Digital Economy Strategy

    Envisions productivity, social gains from broadband connectivity.
    Staff Writers May 31 2011 3:15PM Telco/ISP
    Bartlett: Get hands dirty on NBN strategy

    Bartlett: Get hands dirty on NBN strategy

    Winners won't just be those who get fibre first.
    Ry Crozier May 31 2011 3:11PM Telco/ISP
    Councils win free NBN terminals

    Councils win free NBN terminals

    Minister Conroy announces $23.5m investment.
    Brett Winterford May 31 2011 10:47AM Telco/ISP
    Opinion: The NBN must end the telco blame game

    Opinion: The NBN must end the telco blame game

    Does NBN Co have any incentive to be good to ISPs?
    David Havyatt May 30 2011 10:04AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co calls for satellite broadband ISPs

    NBN Co calls for satellite broadband ISPs

    Wants up to seven by July.
    Ry Crozier May 26 2011 1:49PM Telco/ISP
    NBN could deliver 10 Gbps in five years

    NBN could deliver 10 Gbps in five years

    German 26 Tbps demonstration a case for fibre, says NBN Co CTO.
    Liz Tay May 26 2011 9:54AM Telco/ISP
    McKinsey: The web is a job creator, not killer

    McKinsey: The web is a job creator, not killer

    Predicts 2.6 new jobs created for every one lost.
    Liam Tung May 26 2011 7:58AM Training & Development
    NBN Co recruiting 1000 workers

    NBN Co recruiting 1000 workers

    Selects labour-hire shops to complement internal pool of 15,000 applicants.
    Staff Writers May 23 2011 3:13PM Training & Development
    NBN Co cracks down on future critics

    NBN Co cracks down on future critics

    Ambiguous clause in draft contract.
    Ry Crozier May 23 2011 6:45AM Telco/ISP
    Armidale NBN users armed with big broadband quotas

    Armidale NBN users armed with big broadband quotas

    What NBN first release customers get from their ISPs.
    Ry Crozier May 18 2011 11:51AM Telco/ISP
    Revealed: NBN Co's IT strategy

    Revealed: NBN Co's IT strategy

    NBN Co CIO Claire Rawlins talks cloud, ITIL and 'generic IT'.
    Liz Tay May 17 2011 6:00AM Strategy
    Comment: Sex, drugs and spectrum policy

    Comment: Sex, drugs and spectrum policy

    Lawmakers need a clear head to resolve the battle for Australia's mobile spectrum.
    David Havyatt May 16 2011 6:59AM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co greenfields 'panel' goes to Fujitsu

    NBN Co greenfields 'panel' goes to Fujitsu

    First homes to get fibre within six weeks.
    Ry Crozier May 13 2011 12:55PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co lays out timeline for ISP interfaces

    NBN Co lays out timeline for ISP interfaces

    Batch ordering supported from Q1 next year.
    Ry Crozier May 11 2011 2:22PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to trial direct calls to ISPs' customers

    NBN Co to trial direct calls to ISPs' customers

    Technician call-out confirmations to come direct.
    Ry Crozier May 11 2011 6:07AM Telco/ISP
    Opinion: Advance Australia Where?

    Opinion: Advance Australia Where?

    Lots of talk, but little detail on how the NBN might aid the Australian economy.
    David Havyatt May 10 2011 8:16PM Telco/ISP
    The ICT impact: Budget 2011 by numbers

    The ICT impact: Budget 2011 by numbers

    John Hilvert breaks down the winners and losers.
    Brett Winterford , John Hilvert May 10 2011 8:05PM Financial Services
    iiNet targets 16 NBN points of interconnect

    iiNet targets 16 NBN points of interconnect

    Eyes fibre market share.
    Ry Crozier May 10 2011 12:05PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co reveals B2B gateway architecture

    NBN Co reveals B2B gateway architecture

    Commits to at least 95 percent availability.
    Ry Crozier May 9 2011 2:43PM Telco/ISP
    Vodafone to trial fixed-line broadband service

    Vodafone to trial fixed-line broadband service

    And TIO warns against scapegoating VHA for its mobile problems.
    Staff Writers May 4 2011 3:18PM Telco/ISP

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