[LINK] The monopoly we had to have

[Adrian Chadd]

On Fri, Sep 12, 2008, Richard Chirgwin wrote:
> Indeed... you couldn't get Telstra to play, but I would ask (seriously) 
> why the AARnet membership model could not be adapted to the ownership of 
> the infrastructure under the NBN?

You should ask the university -users- how well the AARNet membership model
worked for general/academic -internet- usage.

I'm sure those in the room who "know" will realise the massively overinflated
prices helped build the aarnet network into what it is today, and that they're
slowly moving into a more sensible pricing scheme (fixed price pricing in 2009?
Welcome to the 21st century! :)  I love the sight of users going home to do
their "big" downloads and then bringing them back to university to continue
doing work.

If by the "AARNet membership model" you mean "end-users were grossly under-
represented" then sure, its a great example of what may happen.

I'm only happy now that things are changing in the academic internet connectivity
world after all this time..



Adrian


> 
> RC
> 
> David Boxall wrote:
> > Restating the bleeding obvious about the National Broadband Network (NBN):
> > <http://www.itnews.com.au/News/84436,opnion-the-monopoly-we-had-to-have.aspx>
> > ...
> >   
> >> it really isn?t in anyone?s interest for any one private entity to own 
> >> and control our nation?s broadband future. And we just aren?t big 
> >> enough to have a half a dozen NBNs all competing with one another.
> >>     
> > ...
> >   
> >> Sure, we have to pay to get network built, so pay for it we must, but 
> >> let?s not let any single telco hold us to ransom with future bleating 
> >> about return on investment, shareholders? demands and executive bonuses. 
> >>     
> > ...
> > To that I'd add that equality of access is imperative for effective 
> > retail competition. Telstra has an abysmal history of impeding retail 
> > competition on networks it controls.
> >
> >   
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