FED:Competition to lower NBN prices: govt

AAP General News (Australia)
07-29-2011
FED:Competition to lower NBN prices: govt

Communications Minister STEPHEN CONROY has played down reports households will have
to pay high prices for high-speed broadband, as he switched on the NBN in another mainland
town.

Internet retailer Internode released the first pricing plan last week, saying households
will pay at least $60 and up to $190 a month for combined phone and internet services
on the National Broadband Network.

But as Senator CONROY switched on the NBN in Kiama, on the New South Wales south coast,
he told reporters the big companies have yet to release their price packages, and competition
will lead to lower prices.

Meanwhile, NBN Co chief executive MIKE QUIGLEY insists the NBN is capable of reaching
peak speeds of 100 megabits per second.

He says reports some connected households had not been able to reach such speeds could
be attributed to retail service providers not buying enough capacity and individuals working
on older computers.

AAP RTV ih/wjf/apm

KEYWORD: NBN (SYDNEY)

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