The best is yet to be

What is the Australian National Broadband Network?

Systems that can transfer internet connection quickly. It’s been stuck in a cyclical loop of slight incompletion — new houses appear as old ones get connected.

When did Australia first decide that fast internet was important?

In the 2000s, when the country realized that high-speed access was key to progress.

Which company initially proposed to build the broadband network?

Telstra, Australia’s major internet company, proposed the network with itself at the center.

Which political party first launched the major broadband plan, and what did they plan?

The Labor Party (Left-wing) in 2007 planned an FTTP (Fibre-to-the-Premises) network with a promise of universal 25 Mbps internet speed.

What does FTTP stand for and what does it mean?

Fibre-to-the-Premises: fiber optic cables go directly to every home, providing the fastest and most reliable connection.

Why was the Labor Party’s FTTP plan criticized?

It was called “economically moronic” — too expensive and unrealistic to complete on a national scale.

What did the Liberal Party (Right-wing) do after taking over?

They replaced FTTP with FTTN (Fibre-to-the-Node) — a cheaper plan that used existing copper wires for the final connection to homes.

What was one major management problem with the NBN project?

The project went massively over budget and billions were wasted on cables that were incompatible with the system’s goal.

How did Australia’s economy perform during the NBN build?

Surprisingly well — Australia’s economy outperformed more connected countries, and online services like Netflix grew strongly.

When was the NBN declared complete?

In late 2020, after over a decade of development.

How many households were unconnected at the end of the project?

The number dropped from 100,000 to 35,000 unconnected homes by mid-2020.

What ongoing issue did Minister Paul Fletcher admit?

Some households will always remain unconnected because new homes are being built as fast as others are connected — a cyclical issue.

How many households still don’t meet the 25 Mbps standard?

Around 230,000 households can’t reach 25 Mbps, but 11.86 million can.

What extra topic was mentioned alongside the NBN press release?

A note on improving internet safety for children.