Leaked NBN report projects FTTN delays

An NBN based on the Coalition’s FTTN-focused model is unlikely to be completed on time and would not support the same business-class features as Labor’s FTTH-based model, according to a document prepared for the incoming Abbott government and leaked to the media.

The document reportedly forms part of the ‘Blue Book’ that was prepared by NBN Co staff in the advent of a Coalition win at the 2013 federal election. Such documents are intended to prepare and advise incoming governments on pertinent issues facing specific ministries.

The Department of Communications previously refused to release the document in response to a Freedom of Information request, but the document has now been evidently leaked to Fairfax Media.

The document addresses some of the Coalition’s claims about its FTTN-focused NBN model.

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull previously said that under the Coalition’s NBN model, all homes in Australia will have download speeds of at least 25 Mbps by 2016.

But the leaked document reportedly says, “There are a number of conditions that will impact on NBN Co’s ability to undertake a volume [FTTN] network rollout.

“Given the complexity of these conditions, it is unlikely that NBN Co will meet the 2016 deadline to upgrade the fixed network to enable Australians to have minimum download speeds of 25 Mbps,” it says.

According to Fairfax, the document also says that some medium-sized businesses, and all large enterprises, would have to buy their own fibre internet connections under the Coalition’s FTTN-based NBN as it would be unable to support many business-class features offered under Labor’s FTTH-based model.

Fairfax’s several write-ups contain more details on the document and its advice to the Abbott government.

Turnbull was highly dismissive of the document Fairfax got its hands on.

“Fairfax has published a totally political document, written by a management team that had conspicuously and consistently failed to meet every forecast they ever made,” Turnbull said.

“This was a very partisan [document] ... this is not the department’s brief, it’s the company’s document,” he said.

“They’ve got a document which was prepared at the Labor government’s request more than six months ago by the NBN Co management - Michael Quigley and Ralph Stephens, both of whom have now gone. This document is A) out of date, B) it is defending a failed project; it has no credibility, absolutely none,” Turnbull said.

But previous Communications Minister and Labor Senator Stephen Conroy said of the document: “It’s initiated by the department, during the caretaker convention period when the government of the day has no role whatsoever and has no visibility and is unaware of the material that is provided to the department.”

Turnbull claimed the current strategic review process initiated by his government was “very objective” and would reveal “what is actually going on” with the NBN.

Pictured: Malcolm Turnbull, right.