iamthecreaturefromuranus

The Telstra monopoly is being broken up by natural means anyway, with other players moving into the market.
Despite working in the IT industry, perhaps because I work in the IT industry, I'm not convinced that it's the role of Government to be involved in this. Even though I see internet access as an essential utility, every Government IT project I've been involved with has been disastrous, and I'm not convinced that this wouldn't be better just left to the existing players.

Broad Shoulders

But no private sector organisation would be able to build it. Off memory, this is costing $42 billion and will not be finished for about another 5 or so years. If a private organisation were able invest that much money, their shareholders would not allow such a long term investment before getting a return on it. The NBN system pretty much starts all over again, without really using any of the existing infrastructure. The Coalition's proposal is to add onto the existing infrastructure like lego blocks, however it will produce much smaller speeds and eventually will need replacing from scratch too. Under the Coalition scheme, then yes, a private organisation could build it as the nature of the scheme would mean that you could invest in increments and get return on investment in the same manner. But in terms of investment in the future, it's not much of one, it's very short-sighted.

iamthecreaturefromuranus

...but is it REALLY needed?

If there is a market for it, then the private sector would build it. The fact that nobody would even consider doing so at the moment suggests that there isn't a market or the demand. It would probably be built, or something similar, in most of Australia's cities over time anyway. It's a definite 'nice to have' but, personally, I think government has better things to spend that amount of money on... health and education for a kickoff.

BristolBeary

The iPlayer in UK works just fine even with a network that's one of the slowest in the world. You do not need this scale of network to watch bloody TV. Wireless technology called satalites do this already!

I believe it's only fibre to the cabanet though, which means every property wanting to connect has to pay $500 to get the cable connected. I have no problem with hooking up cities and high population towns, but to run a cable out to a farm 1000km in the middle of no where is stupid at best.

Also distance from exchange only effects your connection if it's using copper wires.

Amazulu

That is not the intention of the NBN. Places like this will have enhanced wireless or satellite.

BristolBeary

Ok to be precise to role out a cable where there is 1000 people or more is pretty dumb. Which happens to occur in quite a lot of places in Australia and also 1000km in the arse end of no where.

My point still stands.

BristolBeary

And how much would you like to bet that once it's rolled out and belongs to the government, they can filter what they like because they "own" the network?

And I'm still not paying $500 to get an Internet connection!

Deancm_MKII

It will also allow Labor to filter the internet without the need to introduce any legislation.

So we swap one monopoly for a government owned one. Telstra was owned by the government once. That is before they sold it.

Deancm_MKII

Yes, called the NBN Co.

Centurion

Spot on. We simply don't. Nothing the NBN brings households will change anything you do at the moment. You can already download HD movies, you can already VOIP etc.

Private business sees this as well and knows that nobody would pay more for a service they already have.

And frankly, if you choose to live in the arse end of nowhere really you have to expect arse end of nowhere levels of infrastructure service and having high speed broadband is the least of your worries.

Take 55 billion and build public transport that works with train links to semi- rural communities. Or build desalination plants which means we could actually future proof our survival. Build real infrastructure. Frankly it would provide more long term jobs as well.

BristolBeary

Couldn't agree more - very good post.

What most people don't realise is rolling out this speed of network is just the start. It will end up costing business's billions on top! The hardware running web sites for example will need significant upgrading.

Kalenge

The NBN is yet another Labour moon-on-a-stick idea, but this time at a significant cost to the Australian public.

Kalenge

Now there's an idea!! The problem is the government can't dress it up as sparkly as they can with the NBN. It's a choice between selling the public a new ipod or a new toaster!

anawanahuanana

I'd love a connection that's faster than what I have now (ADSL 2+) but if I'm really honest, I don't need one and frankly with the size of the national deficit as it is currently, paying that off and improving "real" infrastructure (roads, rail, healthcare facilities etc) should be higher up the list of things this country wants to buy on credit.
I'd rather see a Liberal government next week and say goodbye to the NBN for now, than get a faster connection through which I can only view what the Conroy and his cronies deem appropriate.

Broad Shoulders

sorry, who sold it?