By Louise Cheer

The Federal Opposition says the extent of their roll-back of the $36 billion National Broadband Network (NBN) will be revealed when the next election is called.

The Coalition wants the plan scrapped and replaced with a cheaper network using various technologies.

Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey’s statement came as the NBN was switched on at the first mainland Australian test site today.

The test site is in Armidale in northern New South Wales.

But Federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has criticised the Coalition’s claims there are cheaper ways to deliver faster internet.

He says fibre-to-the-home will deliver a better service.