The Government has offered Australia's three mobile operators, and vividwireless, renewal of their existing spectrum allocated on 15 year licences in the late 90s and early 2000s at set prices, while the Government expects to rake in $3 billion.
"Our opponents appear determined to opportunistically misrepresent our position on regional broadband," said Conroy, claiming that they also simultaneously criticise the government for limiting fibre coverage to 90 percent of the population and for over-investing in the NBN.
He also pointed out that the potential launch of two communications satellites to provide 100 percent coverage would also cater for "services over and above the 12Mbps benchmark."
"Experts agree that wireless and satellite will always be an important compliment to fibre broadband and that will be especially the case for large geographic spaces such as regional Australia," explained Conroy.
The government's plan for the NBN envisions a rollout beginning in Tasmania during the second half of this year, and on the mainland in early 2010.
It will be a wholesale-only network with open access, so a variety of ISPs and other service providers will use it to connect their customers.
While private investment will be sought, ownership restrictions will be applied to ensure the open-access regime survives.
David Bass
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