[LINK] Australia Gets Broadband – A Slow Connection For A High Price

[Richard Chirgwin]

Janet Hawtin wrote:
> http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/20920/
> There is rapid broadband penetration in Australia despite Telstra and
> the Government not coming to an agreement over key issues.
> By mid-2007 there were close to 4.5 million subscribers in the country.
>
> In residential markets there has been 64 % penetration while in the
> business market this figure goes up to 80 % . While there has been a
> quantitative rise in the number of broadband users, the quality of
> connections, and the price that customers have to pay have been areas
> of concern.
>
> The majority of customers are still on services that provide only
> 256Kb/s or 512Kb/s. Telstra, however, does make an 8Mb/s available,
> but this is not a guaranteed speed, only a best-effort service. 
Eeeek! What a shockingly stupid statement.

256 Kbps is a best-effort service.
512 Kbps is a best-effort service.
8 Mbps is a best effort service.

Actually, whatever data rate in whatever country for Internet access is 
a best-effort service. There is no guaranteed speed for Internet access, 
unless you fork out for a 1:1 connection, which is more expensive than 
Internet access wherever you are.

To forestall a criticism that will have nothing to do with what I'm 
saying: I'm not saying we don't need broadband, I'm saying that 
consumers the world over get "best effort" services whatever the speed.

RC
> There
> is a perceived need for the government to set up a right regulatory
> environment so that an infrastructure can be set up to provide people
> with optimum broadband connections.
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