[LINK] Elders/Optus Rural/Wireless Broadband

[Roger Clarke]

>Marghanita da Cruz wrote:
>>>  Elders and Optus to build rural and regional broadband network
>>  <http://www.elders.com.au/elders_news/default.php?n_id=17&src=ELD>

At 12:59 +1000 18/6/07, Howard Lowndes wrote:
>My broadband election pork barrel is bigger than your broadband 
>election pork barrel...

The probity issue also bears some thought.

Okay, the $600 million presumably came from a competitive tender process.

But the extra $358 million?

Do the circumstances really justify a 'certificate of expediency' 
process, i.e. is the new initiative *really* only able to be 
performed by the same organisation(s) as won the previous 
(loosely-related?) tender?


From:
http://www.elders.com.au/files/070618OPELsecuresBroadbandConnectfunding.pdf

"OPEL will deploy 1361 broadband wireless sites ... initially ... 
wireless broadband speeds of up to 6 megabits per second (Mbps) 
rising to 12 Mbps by 2009 using an internationally deployed broadband 
wireless technology appropriately designed for Australian conditions."

"OPEL will deploy 1361 broadband wireless sites via WiMax, each with 
a reach of 20 kilometres"

"OPEL will deploy a total of 1361 Broadband Wireless sites 
comprising: 438 in New South Wales; 339 in Queensland; 117 in South 
Australia; 45 in Tasmania; 296 in Victoria; 113 in Western Australia; 
10 in the Northern Territory; and 3 in the Australian Capital 
Territory. "

"* OPEL will use a state-of-the-art broadband wireless technology 
based on WiMax standards. WiMax standards are well suited for the 
delivery of high-speed broadband across large geographic areas making 
it an ideal choice for low density populations like Australia.  WiMax 
has been widely deployed across locations in Europe, rural USA and 
Canada to deliver both residential and business broadband services. "

"Broadband wireless will utilise public and apparatus licence 
spectrum. The term WiMAX is used in this fact sheet as a generic term 
to describe a family of technologies that includes Broadband Wireless 
Access (BWA). "

[Am I right to be nervous about the expression "**based on** Wimax standards"?]


"... and install ADSL2+ in 312 exchanges.   Optus will also activate 
114 new exchanges with ADSL2+ as part of its existing commitment to 
provide competitive broadband services.  ...  OPEL will  Broadband 
delivered by ADSL2+ will have speeds of up to 20 Mbps. "

" ... 126 in New South Wales; 109 in Queensland; 44 in South 
Australia; 15 in Tasmania; 82 in Victoria; 49 in Western Australia 
and 1 in the Australian Capital Territory."

"Actual speeds will vary due to various factors such as distance from 
the base station, selected service, customer equipment and general 
internet traffic."


-- 
Roger Clarke                  http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/
			            
Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
                    Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au                http://www.xamax.com.au/

Visiting Professor in Info Science & Eng  Australian National University
Visiting Professor in the eCommerce Program      University of Hong Kong
Visiting Professor in the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre      Uni of NSW