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THE federal communications minister says it is “pointless” comparing the Coalition’s rollout of the NBN in Bendigo with Labor’s former plan because Labor’s is a “fantasy network” that did not eventuate. Mitch Fifield responded to survey results released by Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters on Tuesday, in which she received 3250 hard-copy responses – 75 per cent negative – from 20,000 sent out to Bendigo residents. The Coalition and Labor had differing NBN policies ahead of the 2013 federal election, when then-communications minister Malcolm Turnbull stated the NBN would be complete in Bendigo by 2016. When the Coalition won the election, Labor’s plans to deliver fibre-to-the-premises in Bendigo were abandoned in favour of a multi-technology mix which made use of the existing copper network and neighbourhood nodes. Areas of Ballarat and Shepparton already had FTTP rolled out before the plan changed. Mr Fifield stood by his repeated claim that the policy change had resulted in a faster and cheaper rollout. “Labor didn’t actually deliver broadband to Bendigo residents so it is pointless trying to make comparisons with their fantasy network,” he said. “If Labor’s all fibre model had been persisted with, the people of Bendigo would be waiting longer for the NBN. “It’s also worth noting that using a range of different technologies is what is done in the United States and Europe.” Related: Bendigo mayor demands NBN answers The survey responses to Ms Chesters outlined issues with the interaction between telecommunications companies and NBN Co, repeated service dropouts and some poorly-trained NBN technicians. Mr Fifield said there were always going to be “some issues” in the infrastructure project – one of the largest Australia has attempted. “NBN and the retailers have worked hard to minimise these and improve the connection experience and their services,” he said. “Most people on the NBN have a good experience, but I never want to diminish the experience of a household or a business that isn’t all it should be. “That’s why the ACCC, ACMA, retailers and NBN have put in place new transparency and customer improvement measures.” More than 41,000 premises in Bendigo have access to the NBN. A further 12,000 will soon be connected. The rollout is expected to be complete in Bendigo by the end of this year. Labor has stated that if it wins government at the next federal election it will rollout fibre-to-the-curb to remaining premises where possible.

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