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The NBN is an initiative undertaken by the government and is not focused on maximising profits to shareholders within a fiscal year but providing infrastructure to a broader community (at least in theory). The bandwidth in metropolitan areas is compareable to any other country but is greatly reduced (if available) in the outskirts. Telstra hasnīt got much of an interest to provide capacities in the less populated areas as they arenīt responsible to the people but to their shareholders. Now, if anyone wants to develop an area the right infrastrcuture has to be there in the first place. No one settles anymore in a remote area without power or web access - even though space is way cheaper than closer to the metro areas. The notion that only a handful of outback folk hasnīt got broadband stems from a view that Australia is not changing over time- 5 to 7 hubs, the rest bush- but the demography is changing and more people will need more and affordable space including web access. This in return will see higher population and it will bring growth to these areas that will certainly result in higher tax revenues.
When the german government decided to drain money from all other german states to pump it into rural bavaria to build infrastructure during the 1960s nobody liked it. today bavaria is the second biggest industry hub and taxpayer in germany. national economics donīt pay by end of financial year it sometimes takes decades.
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