[LINK] Broadcaster Bailout Boosts Bush Broadband

[Tom Worthington]

Yesterday AUSTAR announced it would sell 2.3GHz and 3.5GHz spectrum 
to the Optus/ Elders OPEL venture for their WiMAX network in regional 
Australia 
<http://www.austarunited.com.au/pdf/08-01-07%20%20AUSTAR%20spectrum%20FINAL%20website.pdf>.

As I mentioned in a series of talks on broadband in regional 
Australia last September, the lack of dedicated spectrum was a flaw 
in the original Opel plan, which the Austar deal now largely solves 
<http://www.tomw.net.au/technology/it/broadband/index.shtml>.

AUSTAR originally purchased the spectrum for Pay TV. Opel's WiMax 
network would be technically capable of carrying Pay TV, but there is 
no mention of it in the announcement and Optus provide a rival Pay TV 
service. There may be a need for the government to legislate to 
require open access for Pay TV on the WiMax system.

The ALP's broadband policy did not specifically mention WiMax and 
during the election campaign they criticized its coverage. However, 
it is likely the new ALP government will include it in the plans and 
it would provide a lower cost way to provide services outside the 
range of ADSL.



Tom Worthington FACS HLM tom.worthington at tomw.net.au Ph: 0419 496150
Director, Tomw Communications Pty Ltd            ABN: 17 088 714 309
PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617                      http://www.tomw.net.au/
Adjunct Senior Lecturer, ANU