Coalition to introduce broadband surcharge to help pay for rural NBN

Superfast broadband competitors will be charged $7.09 per line a month to help subsidise the cost of regional internet

The Turnbull government is planning to charge competitors to the National Broadband Network a levy to help pay for rural broadband services.

The levy would ensure NBN rivals are unable to cherrypick the most profitable parts of the market, usually in the inner city, and leave NBN Co to wholly subsidise the cost of providing services to rural and remote areas, which is expected to cost about $10bn over the next 30 years.