Broadband Won’t Come Cheap

The first national broadband network rollout, in Tasmania, will cost an estimated $20,000 for each premises that takes up the superfast internet connection — and business leaders say its impact may be minimal. The Rudd and Bartlett governments, which are jointly undertaking the rollout, refuse to reveal the taxpayer-funded plan’s cost, business plan or an estimate of the take-up. However industry sources told The Australian that the take-up rate had been estimated at 17 per cent of the 200,000 target premises — homes and businesses