There has been a stack of insightful commentary posted yesterday and this morning about the long-awaited release of the National Broadband Network Implementation Study, as put together by consulting firms KPMG and McKinsey. And much of it is available online. Here’s some of the best that we’ve been able to find.

Business Spectator

Shock! Study finds NBN viable
Stephen Bartholomeusz

So, the “landmark” implementation study for the national broadband network has “confirmed” that it is achievable and affordable, Stephen Conroy says. No-one has doubted that it is achievable, given the requisite amount of taxpayer funding, but the issue of affordability is in the eye of the beholder. As it happens, the requisite amount of taxpayer support has exploded.

Labor’s NBN lifeline
Paul Budde

The federal government’s proposed national broadband network is financially viable according to the McKinsey implementation report released today. That’s good news for broadband minister Stephen Conroy, but it now depends on strong leadership from the government and a quick response time.

The Drum (ABC)

NBN cheaper, but so is the politicking
Michael de Percy

Today’s release of the National Broadband Network (NBN) report suggests that the NBN will cost taxpayers $5 billion less than the initial $43 billion and will be affordable for consumers with or without Telstra’s participation. This is good news for Australia. But the way Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is handling one of the most important events in 21st century nation-building is an absolute disgrace.

NBN: analysts miss the point
By Stilgherrian

The government has chosen to build and manage the NBN via the separate NBN Company, where all sorts of mischief can be concealed under the rubric of “commercial in confidence”. The Implementation Study report explicitly did not evaluate the wisdom of this decision, either for efficiency or for accountability.

The Australian

Conroy’s Report sets clock ticking on Telstra
John Durie

The report, as expected, laid down the way the network can be built without Telstra. That’s exactly what McKinsey and KPMG were asked to provide. Their optimistic assumptions will be widely attacked by the naysayers but the key benefit of the study is to actually inform the debate and fill the vacuum which sent the looney tune brigade running in a million different directions.

The Punch

At least the internet bills will be better value
Paul Colgan

The federal government has been told the National Broadband Network can be rolled out for at least $5 billion less than the original $43 billion earmarked. News.com.au has the story here, but a quick back-of-a-napkin calculation on what it means.

Awaiting the bill for the NBN
Mark Kenny

Given recent difficulties for the Government, including a series of backflips and capitulations on botched programs such as the home insulation scheme, the Government can ill-afford another debacle.

Communications Day

Heroic cost, take-up assumptions underline NBN case
Grahame Lynch

When interpreting the government spin about affordability and seven year break-even points and the like, it’s worth remembering these forecasts are far from inevitable and derived from some contentious beliefs and assumptions.

What kind of network can you get for $43b?
Kevin Morgan

The NBN implementation study appears to have been reversed engineered in to the government’s original cost estimate – it’s a post hoc rationalisation for spending $43 billion.

A return to Opel for the rural and remote?
Grahame Lynch

The NBN Implementation Study, for the first time, provides some substantial detail on how the NBN might look for the final 10% – or perhaps 7% – of the population who will not get access to a Layer 2 only FTTH network. And, somewhat bemusingly, it contains a recommendation for a direct return to the original Opel Networks idea. It remains to be seen if minister Conroy will be happy with that one!

ZDNet.com.au

Conroy’s won a battle, not the war
David Braue

The release of the implementation report is about the best thing to happen to Labor for weeks. Whether or not it can counter Labor’s recent series of missteps, is another thing entirely. But the report is a start, and legitimises continued investment in the NBN for at least the remainder of Labor’s term.

When the NBN becomes VDSL
Suzanne Tindal

The National Broadband Network (NBN) implementation study was full of good news for the Federal Government, but it also contained contingency plans for the case of cost blow-outs or nasty surprises.

Seen any other great commentary around? Drop us a line at renai@delimiter.com.au and let us know — if it makes the cut, we’ll add it to the list.

Related posts:

1. Conroy hasn’t received NBN implementation study
2. Implementation study gets the NBN numbers wrong
3. Conroy has implementation study: Ludlam
4. Conroy releases NBN Implementation Study
5. Conroy will release NBN study