NBN finish next year

AFTER 10 years and $51 billion, the National Broadband Network is on track to be completed by next year, the Federal Government says.

Three-quarters of Australian households can now connect to the network, including 92 per cent of regional homes.

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield yesterday said 5 million households were using the NBN, which has contributed $1.2 billion to gross domestic product.

It comes as the consumer watchdog says poorer households are paying too much for broadband plans.