[LINK] Coalition unveils $6b broadband plan
Kim Holburn
kim at holburn.net
Tue Aug 10 12:46:51 AEST 2010
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/10/2978634.htm
> Coalition unveils $6b broadband plan
> By online political correspondent Emma Rodgers
>
>
>
> Fibre optic: The Coalition plan will use a number of different
> technologies (Reuters: Hannibal Hanschke, file photo)
>
> The Coalition has promised over $6 billion to improve internet
> broadband services for Australians if it is elected to government.
>
> Finance spokesman Andrew Robb and communications spokesman Tony
> Smith have unveiled the plan in Canberra today as an alternative to
> Labor's National Broadband Network.
>
> The major policy announcement was left to Mr Smith and Mr Robb as
> Opposition Leader Tony Abbott campaigned in Sydney today.
>
> Under the plan, 97 per cent of homes would have access to networks
> which would deliver broadband at speeds of between 12 Mega bits per
> second (Mbps) and 100Mbps by 2016 through a combination of
> technologies.
>
> The remaining three per cent of homes would be serviced by satellite
> services
>
> Main points of the policy include:
>
> • $6.3 b of investment to get a private sector network up and running
> • speeds of between 12Mbps and 100Mbps
> another $2.75b to extend the fibre-optic network
> • $750m to improve DSL services
> • $2b for improved rural regional and metropolitan wireless networks
> Mr Smith said the Coalition's plan would deliver improved services
> quicker than the Government's plan to households that need improved
> speeds.
>
> And he said it was both faster and more affordable.
>
> "Labor's NBN risks tens of billions of taxpayer dollars," he said.
>
> "The Coalition will deliver the new platform and structure to
> unleash competition and drive private sector deployment of faster
> broadband across a range of technologies."
>
> Finance spokesman Andrew Robb said the plan will encourage
> competition.
>
> "We will embrace and ensure Australia has choice and that the heavy-
> handed Government is not dictating their telecommunications
> options," he said.
>
> Labor has pledged to spend $43 billion on a National Broadband
> Network, of which the Government would be a majority stakeholder.
>
> The NBN would offer speeds of 100Mpbs through "fibre-to-the-home"
> technologies but questions have been raised over how many homes
> would want to pay for such a high speed.
>
> The network has already begun to be rolled out in Tasmania and is
> due to be completed by 2018.
>
--
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
T: +61 2 61402408 M: +61 404072753
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