[LINK] Coalition unveils $6b broadband plan

[Kim Holburn]

If private sector broadband works so well why give them a huge  
handout?  And for what?

Nice commentary here:
http://www.buddeblog.com.au/frompaulsdesk/reviving-opel-is-this-the-best-the-opposition-can-come-up-with/

On 2010/Aug/10, at 12:46 PM, Kim Holburn wrote:

> 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
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-- 
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
T: +61 2 61402408  M: +61 404072753
mailto:kim at holburn.net  aim://kimholburn
skype://kholburn - PGP Public Key on request