The Federal Government says the Coalition's "second-class" broadband policy will leave Australia in the "digital dark ages".

The Opposition has confirmed it would scrap Labor's $43 billion National Broadband Network (NBN) if elected.

Instead, the Coalition announced today it would spend $6 billion to encourage the private sector to expand internet services across the country.

Under the plan, 97 per cent of homes would have access to networks which would deliver broadband at speeds of between 12 Mega bits per second (Mbps) and 100Mbps by 2016 through a combination of technologies.

The Government's fibre-optic network would offer speeds of 100Mbps to much of the country.

While leading telecommunications analysts have given the Coalition's plan mixed reviews, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says it is not good enough.

He says the Coalition's plan to focus on wireless ignores the advice of industry experts.

"It will consign Australia to the digital dark ages," Senator Conroy said.

"The Coalition's 19th-century policy, in 12 years, will shut down the NBN and destroy 25,000 jobs that it creates in the building and construction.

"It will deny 1,000 towns across Australia access to fibre technology - the gold standard broadband network.

"It guarantees not one single connection, [and] instead relies on a private sector plan - a plan which failed to deliver for the 12 long years of the Howard government.

"It includes no optical fibre to the home - none at all - and it includes no regulatory reform for the telecommunications sector."

Senator Conroy says the Coalition's broadband policy will leave Australia behind its competitors.

"The Coalition's policy will waste $6 billion to relegate Australia to second-class services," he said.

"They've had 18 failed broadband plans and now you can add a 19th.

"Tony Abbott and the Coalition today have announced a return to a grab bag of broadband bandaids."

But Opposition communications spokesman Tony Smith defended the Coalition's plan in a communications debate at the National Press Club earlier today.

He says Labor is spending too much on its broadband network.

"We will deliver better broadband in a responsible, affordable way that delivers direct government intervention where necessary, modest investment where appropriate [and] importantly in ways that drives competition," he said.

"Our plan would deliver quick improvements for those who get an inadequate service today.

"In delivering an economic framework that encourages rather than stifles ICT (information and computer technologies) industry, we'll continue to foster innovation, research and collaboration."

Mr Smith says the Coalition's plan favours a mix of fibre optic and fixed wireless technology.

"Together these components will ensure that 97 per cent of the population has a baseline minimum 12Mbps service peak speed. Of course many will have higher speeds," he said.

The NBN has begun to be rolled out in Tasmania and is due to be completed by 2018.