The Government's decision to build the national broadband network in a public-private partnership has been hailed as ''visionary'' and ''world leading'' by telecommunications companies, industry analysts and the Australian Greens.
But the Federal Opposition and farmers have questioned the project's viability and its impact on broadband speeds in the bush.
And Independent senator Steve Fielding whose vote could be crucial in passing any necessary legislation has also called the viability of the project into question.
Greens leader Bob Brown said his party would scrutinise the massive project in the Senate.
But he said the network would allow people to ''drive their mouse to work rather than their car''.
''The Greens have been advocating the Government go it alone on the NBN. [It] will allow a great shift of jobs and services from the cities to rural and regional Australia, and they will overwhelmingly be green jobs,'' he said.
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull accused Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of breaking a key election promise.
''The Government has not provided any evidence of the economic viability of this project. What return will be needed for the $43 billion investment? All Mr Rudd has said is that it must be commercial.''
But telecommunications companies were broadly supportive of the plan.
Optus spokesman Maha Krishnapillai said that far from being disappointed with the decision, the company thought the move was ''absolutely the best-case scenario on every level''.
''No one expected the Government to grasp the nettle in the way they have,'' he said.
Telstra chairman Donald McGauchie said his company would begin talking to the Government at the earliest opportunity about becoming involved in the network, and about possible changes in the regulatory environment.
''Telstra has publicly advanced the need for high-speed broadband for a number of years and shares the Government's strong desire to make high-speed broadband widely available to all Australians .''
And Buddecomm chief executive Paul Budde said the project could set Australia up as a world leader in broadband. But he warned the Government would face a challenge in replacing the network of copper cables running to people's homes.
Meanwhile, the National Farmers' Federation president David Crombie said regional Australia had already been left behind in the technology boom and the gap could grow wider.
''We understand that around $250million for backhaul black spots in regional Australia will be spent now, which is good news and will assist services, and that 90 per cent of premises in towns of 1000 people or more will have access to the new network when it arrives,'' he said.
Senator Fielding described the plan as ''an example of the Government grasping at straws because its election policy announcement can't be met''. with AAP
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