NSW:Coalition internet bad for regions: Whan

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2010
NSW:Coalition internet bad for regions: Whan

SYDNEY, Aug 12 AAP - The federal opposition's plan to replace the national broadband
network with a $6.3 billion private-sector model will deny regional communities high speed
broadband, NSW Rural Affairs Minister Steven Whan says.

The federal coalition announced on Tuesday it would provide 97 per cent of households
with faster broadband through a patchwork of technologies.

It said its plan would guarantee minimum broadband speeds of 12 Megabits per second
(Mbps) for 97 per cent of households.

Labor's $43 billion national broadband network (NBN) relies on fast fibre optic technology
for all but the most remote locations.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said on Thursday the NBN would have the capacity
to deliver speeds of one gigabit (1000Mbps) per second.

Mr Whan lashed out at the coalition plan on Thursday, saying 1000 country towns across
Australia would be denied fibre optic infrastructure, and therefore the fastest internet
connections.

"Regional centres deserve fibre optic laid out so that they can compete in business
and deliver 21st century education and health opportunities," he said in a statement.

"This policy disadvantages people in rural and regional areas, who deserve long term,
high speed broadband infrastructure."

AAP ab/wjf/psm/

KEYWORD: POLL10 BROADBAND NSW

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