Australia’s national broadband network struggles to deliver on promises

Australia’s national broadband network (nbn) was launched back in 2009 with the vision of delivering high-speed internet across the country. However, more than 15 years into the project, Australia’s internet speed and reliability continue to lag behind other developed nations.

In fact, according to Speedtest.net, we are 81st in the world for fixed broadband speeds.

The rollout, initially estimated to cost A$29 billion, has been plagued by delays, cost overruns and political interference. Ongoing issues with transparency mean many Australians remain uncertain about when they will receive an nbn connection and what service quality they can expect.

Here’s what went wrong, and how I see the state of the nbn today.

How the nbn began

In 2007, the Labor government was elected on a platform that included a commitment to building a national broadband network. In April 2009, the nbn was officially announced. They planned to provide fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) connections for 93% of Australian homes and businesses by the end of 2020. The remaining 7% would be covered by fixed wireless and satellite services.

In the 2010 federal election, the nbn played a key role in political negotiations, with independent MPs citing it as a deciding factor in their support for Labor. The government then announced the first 60 locations for early rollout, aiming to connect 3.5 million premises by mid-2015.

Challenges and setbacks

The early nbn rollout faced substantial delays and was, unsurprisingly, met with heavy criticism. Negative media coverage reflected how disappointed we were with the rollout.

New research has highlighted how the initial rollout was influenced by political and socioeconomic factors. Following the 2013 federal election, the newly elected Coalition government suspended the large-scale fibre-to-premises rollout, opting for a multi-technology mix instead. This was not a popular move here in Australia.

This decision resulted in widespread uncertainty and inconsistencies in service quality. Rather than the originally promised full fibre connections, many areas received fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) technology, which relied on existing copper networks. This led to slower speeds and ongoing reliability issues, drawing criticism from industry experts and the public alike.

Recent developments and future plans

Copper-wire internet could soon become a thing of the past. In January 2025, the Albanese government committed up to $3 billion to extend fibre connections directly to most homes and businesses. This latest funding round will provide an additional 622,000 premises with FTTP access, supplementing the $2.4 billion allocated in the 2022-23 budget, which enabled 660,000 premises to upgrade to fibre.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has positioned the nbn as a key issue, pledging to complete the full fibre rollout originally envisioned in 2009. He has also introduced legislation to prevent the privatisation of NBN Co, arguing that the Liberal and National parties would seek to sell it if given the opportunity.

Experts are sceptical about the viability of privatisation anyway, given NBN Co’s financial struggles. In 2022-23, the company reported a net loss of $1.4 billion and is burdened with $42.5 billion in liabilities.

Opposition communications spokesman David Coleman has stated that the coalition will not block the new investment but has criticised the government’s handling of the nbn, particularly its failure to compete with emerging technologies like Elon Musk’s starlink satellite service.

Questions of fairness and transparency

A major concern throughout the nbn rollout has been the inequity in service delivery. While some areas got high-speed fibre connections early on, others were left with outdated and unreliable technology. Even now, certain areas aren’t well connected to the nbn. It’s pretty likely that political motivations played a role in determining which locations received priority access in the early days.

Regional areas, in particular, tend to get slow and inconsistent service. Although some regional electorates secured priority access, many others were left with inferior fixed wireless and satellite options. This has raised concerns about digital inclusion and the impact of poor internet access on regional businesses and communities.

NBN Co estimates that by the time the latest upgrades are complete, more than 94% of fixed-line premises – over 11 million homes and businesses – will have access to speeds of up to 1 Gb per second via FTTP or hybrid fibre coaxial connections. However, some analysts warn that demand for higher speeds isn’t huge, with most consumers currently opting for plans between 50 and 100 mbps.

You can find out more about this fibre upgrade, and if you’re eligible for a $0 free upgrade here.

A path forward

Rather than blaming one political party or another for the nbn’s issues, the focus should be on depoliticising telecommunications infrastructure. A reliable, high-speed internet is essential for Australia’s digital economy, smart cities and technological innovation. It is also a key factor in ensuring social and economic equality.

A lack of transparency is still a big issue here. Despite the vast amounts of data generated by the nbn, much of it is not made publicly available. Greater transparency would help identify ongoing problems and improve fair decision-making for future upgrades.

To truly meet the needs of Australians, I believe the nbn must move towards a more future-proof model. We must prioritise high-speed fibre connections and ensure fair access for all communities. Only with proper investment, planning, and accountability can our digital infrastructure catch up to global standards.

Key takeaways

• Australia’s nbn has faced significant delays, cost overruns, and political interference since its launch in 2009.
• These issues have led to inconsistent service quality, particularly affecting regional areas, raising concerns about digital inclusion.
• Recent government commitments aim to extend fibre connections to more homes, but transparency and equitable access remain critical issues for the nbn’s future.

Marshall Thurlow is Director and Founder of Orion Marketing Pty Ltd. He is a digital marketer with expertise in SEO, website design, content marketing, and project management.