FTTN vs FTTP (5): cheaper now or faster later; a value clash of assumptions

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This is likely the last post in this series, and adds another element to the value assessment.
So far, I compared FTTN and FTTP based on CAPEX, OPEX and Revenue. I aggregated those costs to get a GDP impact. I applied an interest rate to compare cashflows over time. In this post, I add an external GDP impact (an externality) to a household with NBN. The Prime Minister argues for FTTN now, rather than the delay of FTTP. He sees a benefit now, rather than waiting. The analysis so far shows over the longer term, except in an extreme delay (eg 8 years), FTTP is preferred.

Source: wikimedia

However, if an extra boost to GDP comes from getting FTTN early, how much does that change the picture? I modelled a 1% and 2% increase in household GDP for the years between FTTN and FTTP.
That is, if a $70k household generates $700 extra benefit (1%) from using FTTN does that justify FTTN over FTTP? I updated the model to add a household (HH) GDP impact, then tried to find what HH GDP impact makes the GDP impact of FTTN the same as for FTTP. I used both 0% and 10% discount rates. An update to the model  (v4) is now provided which included a GDP boost (variable) for FTTN in the years pending FTTP delay.

Where you end up with is a clash of assumptions. One set of assumptions favour FTTN. Another set of assumptions favour FTTP. I tried to find the line, where the assumptions balance out. Therefore, increasing or decreasing an assumption will point to either FTTN or FTTP. Then the argument becomes which assumptions (or set of assumptions) do I believe/trust/support.

In short, FTTN vs FTTP is a marshmallow test. The marshmallow test is a classic child test. Do you want one marshmallow now, or wait to get two marshmallows? Do you want FTTN now, or wait to get FTTP?

Figure 1: Children wrestle with the Marshmallow test. Some (FTTN) now or more (FTTP) later.

Let's see how the numbers change, when you add some household boost to GDP, on top of revenue paid to NBN Co for FTTN.

I use two interest rates for the assessment of extra HH GDP; 0% and 10%. Later I will add in 3% and 5% in a summary. The first two Tables show interest at 0%. FTTP  figures do not change, since the HH GDP is increased only for the time until FTTP is available. I assume no extra benefit for FTTP, since I have no basis for those figures. The GDP impact benefits come from earlier NBN Cost benefit analysis I have done. They showed a 0.5-1% increase in GDP was needed to make NBN cost benefit analysis positive (DCF basis). See links to Whirlpool NBN Costs Benefit summary.

GDP	Delay = 0yrs		2		4		6		8
Yr 10	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP
	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000
0%	10	18	10	15	10	12	10	9	10	6
1%	10	18	13	15	15.5	12	18	9	21	6
2%	10	18	15.5	15	21	12	27	9	32	6

Table 1: Year 10: GDP: with GDP boost to FTTN: 0% Un-discounted cash generated by one FTTN or FTTP household at Yr 10, given delay of installing FTTP. Shaded column indicates better outcome.

GDP	Delay = 0yrs		2		4		6		8
Yr 20	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP
	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000
0%	20	32	20	29	20	26	20	23	20	20
1%	20	32	23	29	25	26	28	23	31	20
2%	20	32	25	29	31	26	37	23	42	20

Table 2: Year 20: GDP: with GDP boost to FTTN: 0% Un-discounted cash generated by one FTTN or FTTP household at Yr 20, given delay of installing FTTP. Shaded column indicates better outcome.

What these tables show is that extra GDP significantly improves the FTTN proposition.
The 0% is the base case, and the 1% and 2% show major financial gains, the greater the longer the delay in FTTP. Where previously at Yr 20, FTTP was always better except where the delay was 8 years then FTTP and FTTN were the same. With extra GDP, even a four year delay can be enough at high extra GDP for FTTN to be more attractive.

Let's look at how the numbers change if we charge a high interest rate of 10% on each years cashflows. Now all the GDP figures are lower, since later cashflows are worth a lot less. High extra GDP will make a large difference, since the cashflows are early. The longer the FTTP delay, the less GDP (discounted at 10%) generated by FTTP.

GDP	Delay = 0yrs		2		4		6		8
Yr 10	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP
	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000
0%	7	13	7	9.5	7	7	7	4	7	2.5
1%	7	13	9	9.5	11	7	13	4	14	2.5
2%	7	13	12	9.5	16	7	19	4	22	2.5

Table 3: Year 10: GDP: with GDP boost to FTTN: 10% Discounted cash generated by one FTTN or FTTP household at Yr 10, given delay of installing FTTP. Shaded column indicates better outcome.

GDP	Delay = 0yrs		2		4		6		8
Yr 20	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP
	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000
0%	9	16	9	13	9	10	9	8	9	6
1%	9	16	12	13	14	10	15	8	17	6
2%	9	16	14	13	18	10	21	8	24	6

Table 4: Year 20: GDP: with GDP boost to FTTN: 10% Discounted cash generated by one FTTN or FTTP household at Yr 20, given delay of installing FTTP. Shaded column indicates better outcome.

What Tables 3 and 4 show is a much improved FTTN proposition at 10% interest rate. FTTN is now preferred at Delay of 4, 6, and 8 years, and even a two year delay if the GDP boost of FTTN is high.

This raises the question - where to draw the line between FTTN and FTTP? On reflection and through playing with the model I can show the assumptions where the GDP (discounted) for FTTN becomes the same for FTTP.

GDP	Delay = 0yrs		2		4		6		8
Yr 10					i=10%	i=5%	i=3%	i=0%
Yr 20					i=10%		i=5%		i=3%	i=0%

Table 5: When does GDP (FTTN = FTTP)? What interest rate (discount) equates to years delay to FTTP?

What I tried to show in this table is what interest rate charged on cashflows make the GDP impact  of FTTN = FTTP.  Thus at Yr 20, with no interest FTTN and FTTP have the same GDP impact, when FTTP is delayed eight years. When a high interest rate is used on the cashflows (10%), then FTTN is the same GDP effect as FTTP, when the delay is only four years.

In the next table, I compare how much extra GDP boost would FTTN require for the GDP impact to be the same as FTTP.

GDP	Delay = 0yrs		2		4		6		8
FTTN=FTTP
Yr 10	i=10%	FTTP > FTTN	1-2%	(High)	0%	(Low)		FTTN > FTTP		FTTN > FTTP
	i=0%	FTTP >	2-3%	(High)	0-1%	(Med)		FTTN >		FTTN >
Yr 20	i=10%	FTTP >	1-2%	(High)	0-1%	(Med)		FTTN >		FTTN >
	i=0%	FTTP >	3-4%	(High)	1-2%	(High)	0-1%	(Med)	0%	(Low)

Table 6: When does GDP (FTTN = FTTP)? What GDP boost to FTTN equates to years delay to FTTP?

What Table 6 shows is that FTTP and FTTN are favourable based on different assumptions.
FTTP is favoured when there is no delay and when interest rates are low. When only a two year delay to FTTP, then FTTN needs high GDP boost to be equivalent. When delay is four years, GDP is roughly equivalent at high interest rate, but requires medium GDP boost at low interest after ten years. After 20 years, FTTN needs medium or high boosts to be equivalent to FTTP.

FTTN is favoured when delay is six or eight years, when interest rates are high (10%), or when boosts to GDP are high.  Previous cost benefit analysis showed a 0.5-1% boost in GDP was needed for NBN to be successful (ie DCF positive).

Conclusion:
FTTN as an alternative to FTTP is significantly boosted by including a 1 or 2% GDP boost from FTTN now up until a delayed FTTP rollout. A high interest rate (10%) also makes FTTN more attractive if delays to FTTP reach four years.

So, cheaper now(FTTN) or faster later (FTTP), is complex. The model now accounts for:

1. OPEX, CAPEX and Revenue
2. Delay in FTTP install
3. Life of assets (but not replacement of FTTN)
4. Interest rate (ie DCF discounted cashflows_)
5. Impact on GDP based on OPEX, CAPEX and Revenue
6. a GDP boost from NBN

Like the marshmallow test, less now (FTTN) and more later (FTTP) is a value tradeoff, which is personal, subjective and complex. Accounting for a short term GDP boost from FTTN makes a significant difference.

What is not yet counted? More factors can be taken into account. Some hard. Some very hard to assess or estimate.

Hard: what cost to replace FTTN with FTTP and when? eg $4k FTTP CAPEX inflated at 1,3,5%pa, discounted at 0,1,3,5,10%, at Yr 10, 15, 20.
Too Hard: how much more GDP impact will FTTP have over FTTN?
Too Hard: how much customer satisfaction will FTTP and FTTN create?
Too Hard: how to compare customer satisfaction with $$?

FTTN vs FTTP (4): cheaper and now, or faster, more $$ and later

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In the last post, I mentioned comparing $$ now and $$ later. Which is better: to receive $2100 now or $4400 later? This depends on when, and how much interest is worth to you each year. This is called the discount rate or cost of capital for businesses.

I analysed the NBN CAPEX, OPEX and revenue for FTTN and FTTP over ten and twenty years, and calculated the impact on GDP. A model, I created, showed the time to breakeven (revenue - OPEX divided by CAPEX). The model also adjusted for delays in rolling out FTTP. When FTTP is delayed more than four years, then FTTN is better in the short term, but FTTP always worked out better in the long term (t=20).

An update to the model (V2; the DCF model), included an interest rate, to account for the 'time value of money'.
I used several rates; 0%, 1%, 3%, 5% and 10%. Businesses usually use closer to 10%, while Government might use closer to 3%. The 0% is the same as the cash figures, I showed in the last post.

Below I show the impact on GDP of FTTN, FTTP, delay to rollout FTTP, and interest rate for the 'time value of money'. The results are a little surprising. The later FTTP becomes, the cheaper it becomes in current $, as the interest rate gets higher. At high interest rates, later becomes better. Again, I shade the option which gives the better financial outcome.

The PM states earlier is better. Let's see if he is right. Any positive figures mean the project is worth pursuing at that interest rate. For two projects, the better project is the one with the higher figure. Negatives are shown in brackets. Figures rounded in most cases.

GDP	Delay = 0yrs		2		4		6		8
Yr 10	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP
	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000
10%	7	13	7	9.5	7	7	7	4	7	2.5
5%	8	15	8	12	8	9	8	6	8	4
3%	9	16	9	13	9	10	9	7	9	4.5
1%	9.5	17.6	9.5	14	9.5	11	9.5	8	9.5	5
0%	10	18	10	15	10	12	10	9	10	6

Figure 1: Discounted cash generated by one FTTN or FTTP household at Yr 10, given delay of installing FTTP. Shaded column indicates better outcome.
[Oops, I will amend the % order of this table to match my preferred order below.]

Some points worth noting:
- FTTN and FTTP are always positive, so on their own are worth pursuing
- FTTP is better when the delay is no more than four years at all interest rates
- FTTN is better when the delay is six or eight years at Yr 10, at all interest rates.

GDP	Delay = 0yrs		2		4		6		8
Yr 20	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP
	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000
0%	20	32	20	29	20	26	20	23	20	20
1%	18	29.5	18	26	18	23	18	20	18	17
3%	15	25	15	22	15	19	15	16	15	13
5%	13	22	13	18.5	13	15.5	13	13	13	10
10%	9	16	9	13	9	10	9	7.7	9	6

Figure 2: Discounted cash generated by one FTTN or FTTP household at Yr 20, given delay of installing FTTP. Shaded column indicates better outcome.

What this shows is:
- At Yr 20, FTTP is superior to FTTN except where the delay is eight years, at all interest rates, or at Delay = 6 and Interest = 10%. This differs from the 0% rate , which shows FTTP superior regardless of delay.
- Both projects are viable in their own right
- High interest rates substantially lower the project benefits

NB: However, FTTN does not include replacement after its end of useful life, which could be as soon as Yr 10. That expense would have to be factored into a cost benefit analysis, but I have no data on replacement cost of FTTN or when that would occur.

Summary:
The interest rates do little to change the pattern of FTTP vs FTTN. Where the delays is less than six years, then FTTP is superior, except at the highest interest rate (10%). Even with an eight year delay, if interest is not counted for then the benefits are similar between FTTP and FTTN. Highest interest rates are better for FTTN when FTTP is delayed six or eight years.

So is earlier better? FTTP is still superior to FTTN even if delayed six years for interest rates up to 5% but not at 10%. At Yr 10, FTTP is only superior if the FTTP delay is four years or less.

Next: I will reconsider what if we add the usage benefits (externalities) of NBN into the calcs, using a 1.5% annual impact on GDP. I will refer the impact to my previous cost benefit models of NBN impact on this blog. Will that be enough to justify an earlier, slower, more expensive to run FTTN over FTTP? I will use household average income as GDP for the household. Say 1.5% of $70,000 => say $1,000 annual benefit. See you next time. comments welcome.

FTTN vs FTTP (3): is FTTN now better value than FTTP later?

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NBN Co. kindly responded to my analysis, after a Gizmodo request, saying "speed of install and deployment being of greatest importance":

“Our priority is to provide access to the NBN to all Australians as soon as possible in the most cost-effective way with an upgrade path to meet future demand. A faster rollout of the network leads to earlier activations and revenue opportunity.”

“A full Fibre-to-the-Premises rollout will take significantly longer to complete than the Multi-Technology approach. This means delayed revenue opportunity and an inability to take advantage of a ubiquitous network in the next four years.”

Competing Value Demands in the NBN
There are competing value demands in these statements. Let me untangle them. Value types include:
1. Access/Community: to all Australians.
2. Time: as soon as possible
3. Cost: in the most cost-effective way
4. Flexibility: with an upgrade path to meet future demand.
5. Cost/Time: A faster rollout means earlier activations and revenue
6. Time: FTTP is slower to roll out.
7. Time/Cost: Delay in FTTP means delayed revenue
8. Community/Time: lose advantage of a ubiquitous network in four years.

NBN is complex because of these competing value dimensions. A few I can ignore because there is no data to analyse, and estimates are likely to vary substantially. For instance, what is a ubiquitous network worth? How much does a flexible upgrade path cost, both in time, $$ and complexity of systems? What a Government does is set priorities for which type of value is most important. The instructions to NBN Co from the Government set these priorities.

It is possible for me to analyse the Time vs Cost aspects and comment on the "most cost-effective" statement. Two ways of assessing Time vs Cost are: (1) Peak Cash, how much will the Govt have to pay to build and run the network, and (2) Time value of money, that is $100 paid today is not the same as $100 paid in six years time, if you take interest into account you could earn on the money elsewhere.

My previous posts already tell us about Peak Cash. On the figures previously provided FTTP generates more cash than FTTN after six years, if they are installed at the same time.

NB: Also amended figures in first post for a calc error. See original post for details. Overall outcome $ per HH pa appears about the same. There is however a substantial negative effect on FTTN GDP, since both OPEX and Revenue are reduced, doubling the impact on GDP.

1.Peak Cash
From the last post, you can show how much cash is generated by FTTN, FTTP at Yr 10, 20 and based on how much FTTP delay there is (0,2,4,6,8). You can display this graphically to show in which instances FTTP or FTTN is superior.

Negatives in brackets. Rounding. Figures are in $thousands; (Rev - OPEX - CAPEX) total $$ accumulated up until that year. Depreciation excluded. Shaded colour the best performer for Peak Cash.

	Delay = 0yrs		2		4		6		8
NBN Co. CASH	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP
	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000
Yr 10	(1.4)	0	(1.4)	(0.9)	(1.4)	(1.8)	(1.4)	(2.7)	(1.4)	(3.5)
Yr 20	(0.7)	4.3	(0.7)	3.4	(0.7)	2.5	(0.7)	1.7	(0.7)	0.8

Figure 1. Cash created(consumed) by FTTP, FTTN at different FTTP delays. Superior outcome shaded. Outcome for one household eg 4.3 means $4,300 cash generated for NBN Co from NBN services (Revenue less Opex less Capex). A 0 means all CAPEX paid back with Revenue at Yr 10 - the breakeven point.

The table shows, using NBN cash as a proxy for benefit:
- FTTP is superior regardless of delay once reach Yr20.
- FTTN is superior at Year 10 so long as there is four years or more delay to install FTTP
- overall FTTN wins in three scenarios, while FTTP wins in seven.

The same analysis can be done looking at GDP. GDP calculate as Rev + OPEX + CAPEX plus Profit/loss of NBN Co. This reflects total economic activity generated by the NBN. This does not account for multiplier effect (extra benefit through more people using NBN. I have previously estimated that benefit at 1.5% GDP per year. This multiplier is likely to make only a small difference in this case.

	Delay = 0yrs		2		4		6		8
GDP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP
	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000
Yr 10	12.8 / 10**	18	12.8 / 10**	15	12.8 / 10**	12	12.8	9	12.8 / 10**	6
Yr 20	26 / 20**	32	26 / 20**	29	26 / 20**	26	26 / 20**	23	26 / 20**	20

Figure 2. GDP compared by FTTP, FTTN at different FTTP delays. Superior outcome shaded.

Note: ** indicates revised GDP from prior post for FTTN OPEX and Revenue over 1.3, rather than pa. There is a significant impact on GDP, since both Revenue and OPEX are reduced having a double impact.

The table shows, using GDP as a proxy for benefit (undiscounted)(using revised figures):
- FTTP is superior regardless of up to eight year delay, by Yr20
- FTTP is superior at Yr10, so long as delay is no longer than four years.
- FTTN is superior when delay is six or eight years to install FTTP.

2.Time Value of Money
I have updated the model to include a reduction in value of cash the later it is received. So $100 received in ten years is worth less that $100 received today. The difference is the interest rate or discount rate for receiving the money later. I redid the above cash numbers using various discount rates - 0% [same as above], 1%, 3%, 5% and 10%. What rate should be used depends on what the NBN pays to borrow money. Government usually has a lower rate than business. Business could use a 10% rate, while Government might use a 3% rate.

If you discount all the cashflows, a positive cashflow indicates a project worth doing, while a negative would not be. When comparing two projects, you prefer the project with the higher discounted cashflow. I have compared FTTN and FTTP on this basis, and updated the model to include these calculations. This is a bit complex, so there is some chance for error. All errors are mine.

The below tables are results from the model, publically available at: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.2008689.v1 The Time Value of Money calcs were added in Version 2 of the model.

	Delay = 0yrs		2		4		6		8
Yr 10	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP
	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000
0%	(1.55)	(0)	(1.55)	(1)	(1.55)	(1.8)	(1.55)	(2.7)	(1.55)	(3.5)
1%	(1.6)	(0.3)	(1.6)	(1)	(1.6)	(1.8)	(1.6)	(2.5)	(1.6)	(3.2)
3%	(1.6)	(0.7)	(1.6)	(1.3)	(1.6)	(1.8)	(1.6)	(2.3)	(1.6)	(2.8)
5%	(1.7)	(1.0)	(1.7)	(1.4)	(1.7)	(1.8)	(1.7)	(2.1)	(1.7)	(2.4)
10%	(1.8)	(1.7)	(1.8)	(1.7)	(1.8)	(1.7)	(1.8)	(1.7)	(1.8)	(1.7)

Figure 3: Discounted cash generated by one FTTN or FTTP household at Yr 10, given delay of installing FTTP. Shaded column indicates better outcome.

From this table you can see, at Yr 10:
- FTTP is superior while delay is less than four years
- FTTN is superior when delay to get FTTN is four years or more.

	Delay = 0yrs		2		4		6		8
Yr 20	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP	FTTN	FTTP
	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000	$'000
0%	(1.0)	4.3		3.4		2.6		1.7		0.8
1%	(1.1)	3.5		2.7		1.9		1.1		0.5
3%	(1.3)	2.0		1.5		0.9		0.4		0
5%	(1.4)	1.0		0.6		0.3		0		(0.4)
10%	(1.6)	(0.7)		(0.7)		(0.7)		(0.7)		(0.7)

Figure 4:  Discounted cash generated by one FTTN or FTTP household at Yr 20, given various delay of installing FTTP. Note: FTTN same for any delay to FTTP.

From this table you can see:
- in Yr 20 FTTP is superior regardless of delay, and regardless of discount rate.

GDP Calcs (adjusted for time value of money) to follow.... in the next post...