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.

    • Small telcos offered license and USO fee reprieve

    Small telcos offered license and USO fee reprieve

    Should they survive in an NBN world.
    Brett Winterford May 2 2011 5:05PM Telco/ISP
    Australian internet ranked fourth most free

    Australian internet ranked fourth most free

    Surveillance, filtering proposals balance NBN benefits.
    Liz Tay Apr 27 2011 6:29AM Security
    Inside an NBN fibre access node

    Inside an NBN fibre access node

    A tour of Australia's exchange of the future.
    Staff Writers Apr 20 2011 6:08PM Networking
    Photos: Inside an NBN fibre access node

    Photos: Inside an NBN fibre access node

    A sneaky tour of Australia's future communications exchange.
    Apr 20 2011 4:00PM Networking
    NZ Opposition calls for halt to broadband rollout

    NZ Opposition calls for halt to broadband rollout

    Kiwi's next-gen network rollout tainted by claims of conflict of interest.
    Juha Saarinen Apr 20 2011 1:06PM Telco/ISP
    Broadband enthusiasts keep the NBN faith

    Broadband enthusiasts keep the NBN faith

    Whirlpool survey backs Government initiative.
    Brett Winterford Apr 19 2011 9:18AM Telco/ISP
    Tech metrics missing from e-health records blueprint

    Tech metrics missing from e-health records blueprint

    NBN expected to 'facilitate new opportunities'.
    John Hilvert Apr 12 2011 11:39AM Security
    Broad: Would've been cheaper to buy back Telstra

    Broad: Would've been cheaper to buy back Telstra

    The NBN alternative.
    Ry Crozier Apr 12 2011 6:01AM Telco/ISP
    NZ telcos take arms against broadband network laws

    NZ telcos take arms against broadband network laws

    Telcos unite in letter to Parliament.
    Juha Saarinen Apr 11 2011 11:43AM Telco/ISP
    Conroy feared giving Telstra $20bn war chest

    Conroy feared giving Telstra $20bn war chest

    Four Corners to reveal cherry-picking drivers.
    Ry Crozier Apr 11 2011 10:43AM Telco/ISP
    ClubTelco initiates reverse takeover bid for EFTel

    ClubTelco initiates reverse takeover bid for EFTel

    Scaling up for an NBN world.
    Ry Crozier Apr 8 2011 4:54PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co to finalise wholesale contract by July

    NBN Co to finalise wholesale contract by July

    Wants real industry engagement, not just legalese mark-ups.
    Ry Crozier Apr 8 2011 3:28PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co reveals ISP list for first-release sites

    NBN Co reveals ISP list for first-release sites

    Mix of big and small.
    Ry Crozier Apr 8 2011 10:29AM Telco/ISP
    Conroy: Cherry-picking laws won't hurt small business

    Conroy: Cherry-picking laws won't hurt small business

    Claims no service providers are offering SMB's services over 24Mbps.
    Brett Winterford Mar 31 2011 3:11PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra best placed to exploit NBN fire sale

    Telstra best placed to exploit NBN fire sale

    Propped up by $9b NBN Co injection.
    Ry Crozier Mar 31 2011 2:34PM Telco/ISP
    Pipe Networks seeks carrier land access review

    Pipe Networks seeks carrier land access review

    Broken system could delay NBN rollout, add costs.
    Ry Crozier Mar 30 2011 2:43PM Telco/ISP
    Turnbull: NBN gets harder to 'unpick'

    Turnbull: NBN gets harder to 'unpick'

    A Coalition government would now find it tough to sell down the network.
    Ry Crozier Mar 30 2011 10:10AM Telco/ISP
    'Wild west' element standing in way of net protections: Coroneos

    'Wild west' element standing in way of net protections: Coroneos

    Security should be 2 percent of NBN price, says Internet Industry Association.
    Nate Cochrane Mar 30 2011 5:36AM Security
    ‘Wild west’ stands in way of icode: Coroneos

    ‘Wild west’ stands in way of icode: Coroneos

    Security should be 2 percent of NBN price, says Internet Industry Association.
    Nate Cochrane Mar 29 2011 5:44PM Security
    NBN cost model 'entrenches' Telstra, Optus

    NBN cost model 'entrenches' Telstra, Optus

    Small-to-medium national ISPs 'dead' without sub-wholesalers.
    Ry Crozier Mar 29 2011 4:32PM Telco/ISP

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