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 chief promises no volume discounts

    NBN Co chief promises no volume discounts

    NBN Co yet to review NBN bill changes.
    Ry Crozier Mar 29 2011 10:38AM Telco/ISP
    Conroy wins safe passage of NBN bills

    Conroy wins safe passage of NBN bills

    Strikes deal with independent MPs.
    Ry Crozier Mar 29 2011 12:05AM Telco/ISP
    Govt accused of nutting out backroom NBN deal

    Govt accused of nutting out backroom NBN deal

    Coalition amendments cause stir.
    Ry Crozier Mar 28 2011 3:27PM Telco/ISP
    NBN bills proceed to final vote

    NBN bills proceed to final vote

    Debate moves forward.
    Ry Crozier Mar 28 2011 2:41PM Telco/ISP
    Coalition argues against NBN bill consideration

    Coalition argues against NBN bill consideration

    Plans fresh round of amendments.
    Ry Crozier Mar 28 2011 11:55AM Telco/ISP
    Senate passes NBN Companies bill

    Senate passes NBN Companies bill

    Not before Conroy is taken to task by the Greens.
    Ry Crozier Mar 25 2011 11:43AM Telco/ISP
    Conroy offered 'breather' on NBN Access Bill vote

    Conroy offered 'breather' on NBN Access Bill vote

    'Gag' accusation tips Senate over the edge.
    Ry Crozier Mar 25 2011 11:11AM Telco/ISP
    Greens win NBN Co FOI review

    Greens win NBN Co FOI review

    To occur within a year.
    Ry Crozier Mar 25 2011 10:36AM Telco/ISP
    Conroy wins NBN bill changes in Senate

    Conroy wins NBN bill changes in Senate

    The wash-up of whose amendments were passed and defeated late last night.
    Ry Crozier Mar 25 2011 7:08AM Telco/ISP
    Conroy brands Coalition NBN changes 'Stalinistic'

    Conroy brands Coalition NBN changes 'Stalinistic'

    Political pawns of the telcos.
    Ry Crozier Mar 24 2011 7:02PM Telco/ISP
    NBN Co awards Tyco $100m deal

    NBN Co awards Tyco $100m deal

    Swiss manufacturer wins passive component contract.
    Staff Writers Mar 24 2011 2:04PM Networking
    Conroy scales back NBN cherry-picker clauses

    Conroy scales back NBN cherry-picker clauses

    Exemptions to placate an angry industry.
    Ry Crozier Mar 23 2011 5:47PM Telco/ISP
    'Ratbag' engineers make NBN kill switch unlikely: ISOC

    'Ratbag' engineers make NBN kill switch unlikely: ISOC

    A hundred and twenty-two points of presence keep Australia online.
    Liz Tay Mar 22 2011 6:31AM Security
    Xenophon takes aim at NBN volume prices

    Xenophon takes aim at NBN volume prices

    No sweeter deals for "efficiency" gains.
    Ry Crozier Mar 21 2011 2:34PM Telco/ISP
    Telstra delays shareholder vote on NBN deal

    Telstra delays shareholder vote on NBN deal

    No new timetable.
    Ry Crozier Mar 18 2011 11:05AM Telco/ISP
    Senate Committee says pass NBN bills

    Senate Committee says pass NBN bills

    Industry concerns acknowledged but ignored.
    Ry Crozier Mar 17 2011 5:15PM Telco/ISP
    $900m piracy report author defends conclusions

    $900m piracy report author defends conclusions

    But annual losses only a "ballpark".
    Nate Cochrane Mar 17 2011 11:56AM Security
    IBM selects Townsville for 'smart city' grant

    IBM selects Townsville for 'smart city' grant

    Offers $400,000 of consulting to NBN testbed.
    Liz Tay Mar 17 2011 5:28AM Strategy
    NBN Co sets systems architecture baseline

    NBN Co sets systems architecture baseline

    Combats "legacy brains".
    Ry Crozier Mar 16 2011 1:53PM Telco/ISP
    Book extract: Broadband's weightless world

    Book extract: Broadband's weightless world

    A faster future for Australians awaits, write Brad Howarth and Janelle Ledwidge.
    Staff Writers Mar 14 2011 12:57PM Networking

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