Aussies to save big bucks thanks to NBN internet

A research paper produced by Deloitte Access Economics believes that Australian households will be saving $3,800 a year in the future, thanks to high-speed broadband in our homes.

But the really good news is that it doesn't seem to matter which political party's broadband policy you support. The report speaks to the advantages of high-speed broadband generally, and is not limited to specific speed caps.

The $3,800 figure is an interesting one, as it doesn't refer solely to actual cash savings, but also to the time people may save, in travel to and from work in the case of telecommuters, for example. Time savings in online shopping is another area pointed to by the report -- a time saving of 19-mins per household per day.

It is also a figure based on savings Deloitte foresees based on the technologies of today. In their words, "[the report] is not foresighting major new technology developments. It extrapolates existing trends, based on assumptions about the pace of take-up and changes in our economy and society."

As we pointed to recently, some of the real benefits of a consistent national network are yet to be invented. Most Australians understand how they use the internet today, and most can see how this is different from how they used the internet 5 and 10 years ago. We have seen major innovations in online shopping and a sharp uptake in the acceptance of it in mainstream.

The one part of the report that does act to separate the two political party's approaches to the NBN is in a forecast of speeds required over the next 20 years. The chart (below) identifies that speeds outlined by the Coalition's Fibre to the Node (FTTN) plan will be sufficient for today, but are forecast to fall short by 2035.

Joseph Hanlon

Editorial Director | X | LinkedIn

Joe Hanlon has been immersed in mobile phones, plans and the internet for over a decade, having written for publications like CNET, Techradar, Gizmodo and Lifehacker. He steers the editorial ship and makes sure that we are always serving up the most useful guides and recommendations. If you ever bump into Joe on the street, don't be afraid to ask for a phone recommendation. It's embarrassing how much he enjoys talking about this stuff. He also loves listening to podcasts, so feel free to email Joe with recommendations.

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