Labor is preparing to put a compromise technology known as fibre-to-the-kerb at the centre of its plans for the National Broadband Network should it win the next election.

Labor communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland said the opposition still favours its original fibre-to-the-premise technology, but accepted its options are limited given the network will be almost finished by the next election.

"I suspect we'll be one of the few ISPs to agree with Bill Morrow," said Aussie Broadband managing director Phil Britt, referring to the NBN chief executive's blog last Monday blaming a "land grab" by retailers for the unsuitable service many customers had ended up with. Credit:Glenn Hunt

The NBN announced earlier this month that its rollout had hit the halfway mark, but the milestone was overshadowed by growing reports of users reporting dropouts and lower than expected speeds after moving onto the NBN.

NBN has already announced that 1 million premises will receive fibre-to-the-kerb – the newest option in its "multi-technology mix" rollout. Fibre-to-the-kerb involves fibre being run to the front of a home or business and using an existing copper cable for the final stage.