With Australia recently slipping to 44th in the world internet stakes, the NBN is arguably needed more than ever. Credit: Magilla (canofworms.org)

Christmas came early for the Coalition, which succeeded in getting its long-delayed renegotiations with Telstra and Optus over the line before the industry had collectively headed home for the holidays.

Coming on the heels of a reduction in NBN Co rollout targets and confrontational Senate hearings in which NBN Co could not provide details of its plans, the deal cemented the multi technology mix (MTM) model for the NBN. Competition watchdogs have been asked to help figure out how to prevent Telstra from getting an unfair advantage from the deal, which was announced in mid December with the usual smiles and handshakes.

Despite concerns that Telstra would leverage the deal to its benefit, ACCC chairman Rod Sims was optimistic that Telstra's technical prowess could be harnessed without allowing it to overrun the industry.

Telstra also picked up additional work around the NBN, helping boost the company's shares and leaving some hailing the deal as a win for small businesses and startups that will get at least some broadband improvements in the short term.

The Telstra deal wasn't the only gift the Coalition government offered itself: communications minister Malcolm Turnbull also finalised a revamped deal with Optus and - on the back of the government's official response to the recommendations of the three-part Vertigan review - abandoned the idea of uniform national pricing for telecommunications services.

The government also introduced a new condition for licensed telecommunications companies, giving them just two weeks to ensure they have separate wholesale and retail arms. This move, blatantly targeted at stopping the rollout of NBN-competitive investments like TPG's fibre to the basement (FTTB) services, had the desired effect as TPG subsequently suspended its rollout pending compliance with the new conditions. Turnbull also promised to release an internal NBN Co review showing the cost to date of rolling out the previous Labor model for the NBN.

Further reading

Everyone's a winner in Telstra-NBN deal (AFR)

NBN Co's new Telstra deal is as good as NBN will get (SMH IT Pro)

Surprise: Oz gov gives itself room to NEVER finish the NBN (The Register)

The year the NBN stood still (Technology Spectator)