[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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