As for the cost of the NBN - how could anyone ever think that we could have a world class hardwired network across one of the worlds most spreadout populations cheaper than a smaller, more populated country.
Yep we're number 233 at 3 per squ/km and really kicking ass over Western Sahara and Mongolia
![Grin ;D](http://www.myswag.org/Smileys/classic/grin.gif)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_territories_by_population_density
Well NBNCo have passed the halfway mark and the average cost per premise of the fixed wiring is FTTN at $2200, FTTDP(kerb) at $2800 and FTTP at $4200 (that's greenfields and not brownfields too remember) and the satellite stuff is anyone's guess. Instigator Minister for Comms, Senator Conroy was thinking $1500 a premise for full fibre when the 14 finalist tenderers gave him the bad news and here we all are. As one wit put it succinctly we're now stuck with turning a really, really bad idea into a really bad idea, but we should also note it was Netflix that tipped a bucket on the best laid plans of mice and men but they're the good guys in the whole super highway/ productivity/yada yada saga apparently. Perish the thought it was all about facilitating a nation of couch potatoes for the grandkids to pay off
![Embarrassed :-[](http://www.myswag.org/Smileys/classic/embarrassed.gif)
Yes I've heard many plaudits for Aussiebroadband but also it does come down to a lottery with peak congestion depending on your particular area. The BIL is rapt with 25/5 FTTN in Eden Hills in Adelaide after really slow copper due to the distance from the exchange. I'm on pretty good ADSL anyway although there's HFC on the poles in our street already so presumably that's what I'll get (late 2018 at this stage). Another really slow slowpoke in Marino (again max distance from her exchange) is about to go live with brand new HFC laid in her street so no doubt it will be a big improvement for her. Oh and one of my tenants is on while the landlord waits patiently.
Overall the rollout is really cracking along now and it is a work in progress so when it's largely complete there's no reason why NBNCo's attention can't then focus on addressing weak spots/congestion and further general upgrading over the long haul. Clearly they need to get the bucks rolling in and pay for the massive investment ASAP though.