Media Release
Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
Government committed to FTTN national network
Senator Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy today said that Labor is committed to building a national high-speed broadband fibre‑to‑the‑node network.
The new network will deliver minimum broadband speeds, 40 times faster than current speeds to 98 per cent of Australians.
The remaining two per cent of Australians will receive a standard of service that is as close as possible to that offered by the new network, and will be delivered by the best available wireless, microwave and satellite technologies.
“This new network will jump Australia into the 21st century,” said Senator Conroy.
“It will be open access, promote competition and put downward pressure on consumer prices.
“We will hold an open and transparent process to determine who will build the network with our ambition being to complete the process by the end of June next year.
“We expect that there will be much public commentary, jockeying and lobbying from parties as they work to convince the Government that they are best placed to build the new network and seek the terms that are most favourable to them,” said Senator Conroy.
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Further information: Belinda Dennett on (02) 6277 7480 or 0417 011 991
