Week one of the election campaign is drawing to a close with the two major parties continuing to debate who has the better broadband plan for Australia.

The Shadow Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy kicked off the debate with claims the Howard Government’s $958 million broadband plan will have a lot less coverage than originally claimed. Releasing OPEL rural broadband network coverage maps as assessed by Labor, Mr Conroy said Labor planned to reach 100 per cent of Australian’s including a FTTN network for 98 per cent of Australians.

The Coalition hit back today accusing the Labor Party of refusing to release any coverage maps for its broadband plan because they are based on Telstra network information. Communications Minister, Senator Helen Coonan said the Labor assessed maps failed to include existing broadband services or OPEL’s proposed ADSL services.

In the media:

• Blackspots in bush net plan 'larger' (www.australianit.news.com.au)
• Telstra, Labor 'in cahoots': Vaile (www.theaustralian.news.com.au)