[LINK] Resilient Broadband Network needed for Australia

Tom Worthington Tom.Worthington at tomw.net.au
Wed May 7 15:41:26 AEST 2008


This is to suggest that Australia's new broadband network be designed 
to be usable to warn the public of emergencies, to allow them to call 
for assistance and to be used in disaster recovery.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute has released the report 
"Taking a punch: Building a more resilient Australia" 
<http://www.aspi.org.au/publications/publication_details.aspx?ContentID=165&pubtype=6>. 
It argues that recent disaster planning has overemphasized terrorist 
attacks, which are unlikely and more effort should be devoted to 
natural disasters, which occur frequently in Australia. They suggest 
the community needs to be resilient to deal with disaster themselves, 
rather than assuming that if they call 000 someone will come to help.

The authors also point out that VOIP communications may make 
Australia more vulnerable in a disaster:

     "VOIP (voice over internet protocols) technology is becoming of 
much greater importance so there will be challenges in reaching those 
who rely on internet access for all communications."

     From: Strategic Insights 39 - Taking a punch: Building a more 
resilient Australia, David Templeman and Anthony Bergin, Australian 
Strategic Policy Institute, 7 May 2008

The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy 
issued a Request for Proposals to Roll-out and Operate a National 
Broadband Network for Australia: 
<https://www.tenders.gov.au/?event=public.atm.show&ATMUUID=3B2F3C6A-C522-FE70-2190C9696025DA26>. 
It is likely that consumers and businesses will replace their wired 
phone services with VOIP over this new network. Most VOIP services 
are currently not designed for emergency communications, nor to 
operate during a mains power failure. The RFP asks about provision of 
battery backup of the equipment and also mentions emergency calls, 
but this is priority 16 out of 18.

I suggest that the NBN needs to address resilience of the broadband 
network as a high priority and plan for its use in emergencies. ICT 
can improve on the voice telecommunications system to provide better 
facilities for emergency warnings and disaster recovery, if this is 
planned for. The community can be participants, not just as victims 
in disaster recovery, using this network.

See also: E-government for emergencies: dealing with a bird flu 
pandemic using the wireless web and podcasting: 
<http://www.tomw.net.au/2005/wd/birdflu.shtml>.



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  




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