The federal government has hailed the launch of the national broadband network in the New South Wales south coast town of Kiama as a significant milestone.
But Communications Minister Stephen Conroy played down reports that households will have to pay high prices for the superfast service.
Kiama is the second town on the Australian mainland to rollout the broadband network, the first on the east coast.
NBN Co says that the network can reach peak speeds of 100 megabits per second.
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Treasurer Wayne Swan says the rollout has already reached over 18,000 premises nationwide.
The Oppostion insists that it has a better way - but it won't be digging up the network, if it wins the next election.
"The challenge is going to be to recalibrate the program, so redesign the program so we can get the areas that have inadequate broadband now, fast broadband much more quickly," Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull said.
