MICHELLE ROWLAND MP SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS MEMBER FOR GREENWAY
REGIONAL AUSTRALIANS WILL HAVE ABETTER NBN UNDER LABOR
As oftoday, Australia has slipped to 65th in the world on median broadband speed rankings – its lowest ranking to date.
Improving the quality, resilience and reliability of regional telecommunications is a top priority for an Albanese Labor Government.
Labor welcomes recent proposals to boost fixed wireless and satellite, and will implement the plan.
This means our consolidated $3.2 billion investment will deliver the following NBN benefits for millions of Australians:
1. Expanding full-fibre access for a further 1.5 million homes and businesses, including up to 660,000 more premises in the regions.
2. Upgrading fixed-wireless to make speeds of 100 mbps available to all users, with up to 85 per cent having 250 mbps access. This will benefit an estimated 755,000 premises.
3. Expanding the coverage of fixed-wireless to a further 120,000 currently satellite-only premises.
4. Boosting the monthly data allowance for remaining SkyMuster satellite customers to 90 gigabytes a month, benefiting 300,000 premises.
5. Increasing the unmetering of Sky Muster Plus data from the current six-hour window (1am to 7am) to 16 hours (midnight to 4pm).
Labor will also work with NBNCo to examine the feasibility of reducing congestion on its seven most clogged-up satellite beams. If achieved, this would allow data allowances of at least 100 gigabytes per month.
Under Labor, 80 percent of the 7.1 million Australians living in regional and remote areas will have access to speeds of 100 Mbps or more by late 2025. Currently this is only 33 per cent.
In short, regional Australians will have better connectivity under an Albanese Labor Government.
For nearly a decade, the Liberal and Nationals’ oversight of the NBN has been a masterclass in technological incompetence and financial mismanagement.
The Liberals promised to build the NBN for $29 billion. Then it became $41 billion. Then $49 billion. It now costs $58 billion.
Australians can and should expect to have access to world-leading internet speeds to keep us connected, resilient, and globally competitive.
They need an Albanese Labor Government with the plans and foresight to make that promise a reality.
Under Labor
80 percent of all regional and remote premises will have access to speeds of 100 Mbps or more by late2025.This is currently estimated to be only 33 per cent.
93% of all Australian homes and businesses will have access to speeds of 100 megabits per second or more.
90% of the NBN fixed-line footprint will have access to gigabit speeds.
MONDAY, 28 MARCH 2022 MEDIA CONTACT: PNINA HAGEGE 0402 394 790
