Nationals hold the line against NBN

COMMENT - Communications minister Stephen Conroy has seized on the latest broadband statistics from the OECD as a vindication of his government's plans for the National Broadband Network, saying that they show Australia falling behind in broadband penetration. But the story is not that simple.

Communications minister Stephen Conroy has come out swinging at arch rival Malcolm Turnbull, once again accusing him of economic vandalism and warning that early regional adopters of the National Broadband Network could be slugged with much higher prices if the Liberal’s alternative broadband network came to pass.

In the latest salvo in an ongoing war of words with Stephen Conroy and NBN Co, Internode managing director Simon Hackett has accused the Communications Minister of having "stuffed up" the National Broadband Network pricing model in a way that will slow the growth of broadband in Australia.

The National Broadband Network was an "ill-conceived adventure" that had left poorly-served households in rural and regional Australia without a decent internet connection for two years longer than necessary, shadow communications spokesman Tony Smith says.

Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has used the release of new broadband statistics to argue that the real inequity in Australia's broadband market is the fact that lower income households cannot afford currently broadband prices, arguing that Communications Minister Stephen Conroy needs to learn "Economics 101".

Anyone who thought that Australian politics was boring before last weekend is probably now having second thoughts. Whichever party gets to form government, however, one thing is certain: rural and regional Australia are finally going to get decent broadband. The question remains what sort?

Telco and network construction company NextGen Networks has completed laying a 146 kilometre fibre backbone link to South Australian town Victor Harbour and other rural locations as part of the National Broadband Network rollout, according to a statement issued today by the office of Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and UNESCO have set up a 30 member commission, which includes Australia's communications minister, Stephen Conroy, to accelerate broadband rollout around the world and promote a wide range of applications.

The office of Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has confirmed plans to release the National Broadband Network Company's long-awaited business plan for public viewing from Monday.