"Putting aside the relative merits of each strategy, and the success or otherwise of their respective implementations, time has provided the opportunity for a reassessment of how we build the most appropriate broadband network fit for the 21st Century. New technology has provided a viable alternative to the copper-based fibre to the node (FTTN) model."

A recent hearing of the Senate NBN Select Committee was shown so-called "skinny fibre" that NBN is now using. This technology was not available when the decision was made to adopt FTTN, which underpins the MTM.

As predicted by qualified observers, the overall costs of construction have come down over time as NBN has refined its operating practices and achieved economies of scale, irrespective of the technology chosen. "This will likely be the case for the lifetime of this project," predicts Internet Australia.

"At the same time as we've seen the technology change, internet speeds delivered to consumers in other countries have been steadily rising and causing Australia to fall behind quite dramatically", Mr Patton noted. "We have slipped to 60th on global rankings from 30th just a few years ago, according to the widely-quoted 'State of the Internet' report from content delivery network Akamai. This slide relative to our peers will continue even as the NBN is being built so long as we rely on an ageing copper network".

Internet Australia says it is keen to see FTTN abandoned in favour of "fibre to the driveway" (technically known as fibre to the distribution point, or FTTdp). This would see fibre cabling run all the way to a point at or near the boundary to homes and commercial buildings.