Investors sent Australian telco giant Telstra (ASX: TLS) shares down more than 6 per cent to a record low as prospects of a hung parliament cast doubts about the future of its broadband plans and the wider telecommunications industry.

Even before Saturday's election, Telstra chief executive David Thodey knew the election would shape the company's future, according to reports.

The Coalition has pledged to discard the $43 billion NBN in favour of incentives to attract businesses to expand wireless broadband into regional areas. Labor, meanwhile, favours a government-funded project that would deliver fast fibre broadband to 93 per cent of the population.

Tesltra shares fell in early trading, losing as much as 18 cents or 6.1 per cent to $2.78 amid an overall lower market.

All three independent MPs, who could decide which party takes power favour government-assisted telecommunications, will be among the first to have broadband network services rolled out in their electorates.

Rob Oakeshott, from the seat of Lyne on NSW's northern coast, said NBN is an ''important step towards social equality'' for residents in his seat.

Tony Windsor from inland northern NSW slammed the Coalition's broadband policy, saying competition had not been able to deliver telecommunications to regional areas.

''[The NBN] is probably the most important piece of infrastructure; it is the one thing that can negate the disadvantages of living in the country,'' according to him.

Bob Katter yesterday showed his disappointment with the current industry structure. ''A privatised broadband, I mean, please, don't even talk about it; privatised Telstra has been absolutely disastrous for rural Australia''.

However, the three independents are yet to announce which party they support or whether a new broadband policy would lure them to a Coalition government.

Meanwhile, the Greens have backed the NBN on the record, but would prefer it remains publicly owned.