In Nelson Bay on Tuesday to welcome the rollout of the NBN to the first 3000 homes in the town to be hooked up, Senator Fifield said the Coalition government’s multi-technology plan would see the NBN delivered faster, cheaper and at less inconvenience to householders.

“I think the approach we are taking is the right one, getting the NBN rolled out by 2020, getting the NBN rolled out six to eight years sooner than would have been the case [under Labor], getting it rolled out at $30 billion less cost,” he said.

”Because we are using fibre to the node, instead of fibre to the premises, it means the construction costs, the connection costs, are about half what they would have been.

“It also means that NBN doesn't have to dig up the driveways of hundreds of thousands of premises nationwide, so it is less disruption to households.”

The minister dismissed as “teething problems” widespread complaints with the fibre-to-the-node rollout in the Hunter, including slow internet speeds and prolonged periods of disconnection, sheeting most of the blame back to internet service providers. 

“There can be some teething problems with retail service providers, it's important to recognise the interface people will have is with the retail service provider and, look, there have been some issues but those have been worked through,” he said.

“Obviously you would like to have a seamless process, a seamless experience for all consumers.

“NBN is learning as it goes, retail service providers are learning as they go, and they are putting lessons into practice but I am confident fibre to the node will be a good experience for Australians.”

Senator Fifield said the NBN had been rolled out to 108,000 premises across the Hunter, of which 36,000 had already connected to the network, one of the highest take-up rates in Australia.

He said the Coalition had also committed $266 million to three rounds of programs to address mobile black spots nationally, funding Labor had yet to match.

Paterson Liberal candidate Karen Howard endorsed the minister’s praise for fibre-to-the-node technology and said she had heard few complaints about the rollout during her travels around the electorate.

“It has been met with a high degree of anticipation,” she said.

“I'd have to say it is not an issue that is raised with me every day in a  negative sense.”

Senator Fifield said 16,000 Nelson Bay premises would be able to connect to the NBN by the end of the year and a further 14,000 in Maitland.

He promised consumers they would receive “a good service – up to 100 megabits per second”.