GarryP

"... of the policies announced in the election campaign."
But that's a bit long for the title.

Of those that understand, this is a policy that loses him votes. And chances are those that understand will explain it to the mouthbreathers before September.

The biggest screw up, besides being backward looking (a right wing fault) is the idea that Telstra will hand over their copper network, gratis and for nothing. How f**king naive, in finance, business, and simple common sense do you have to be to think that an incumbent that owns a vitally important asset, without which your plan is dust, will hand it over with a cheery wave? Least of all when is s*dding Telstra.

Wol

I hesitate to chip in because I realise that the subject of data transmission is a complex one. But speaking personally, and paying $50pm for an advertised 1.5Mbs (the maximum here) which gives an actual 1.2Mbs, anything over 5Mbs would be a gamechanger.

If the Lib proposal offers fibre to the area with copper for the last few hundred metres for a reasonable cost, within a couple of years and without the disruption of digging up the garden then I'm all for it.

Isn't it possible that the last bit can be changed to fibre to the home later on, with the increased speed on option? Obviously at a cost to those who want to download several HD porn movies concurrently....

GarryP

Or alternatively, 100Mbps for the same cost? And a small slot across your precious garden which would heal faster than an aussie summer? With 1Gbps possible as a simple upgrade. Wouldn't that be more of a game changer?

It doesn't work like that (which is why the NBN is the shape it is). Its basically the same cost again to rip and replace, the hybrid infrastructure doesn't work for upgrade, and its invokes costs for upkeep and maintenance that the NBN doesn't.

Its kind of like asking if you can upgrade a steam traction engine to 6 cylinder petrol engine.

IvanM

The last mile would have to be dug up for each ftth connection. It would be cheaper to do it in one go.

The latency of ftn would not be as good. Ftth allows streaming and multiple video calls. Ftn allows one at a time meaning paying or a line rental as well as Internet.

I doubt ftn could be delivered much quicker as the whole thing needs a redesign.

The worst thing about the copper last mile is at it is ageing and will be flaky.