Getting the NBN infrastructure we need

Abstract

This article summarises the presentation given by the author at the TelSoc NBN Futures forum held in Melbourne on 31 July 2019. The author spoke in favour of retaining NBN Co in public ownership, at least for the medium term and until a long-term plan and evolution pathway has been established. Such a plan is needed to ensure that Australians have affordable access to world's best broadband service and that delivers social and economic inclusion. Dr Holmes argued that there are positive reasons for supporting public ownership, and that this was the least worst of the options available.