[LINK] The Liberal's broadband proposal.

[Jan Whitaker]

At 09:51 AM 11/08/2010, Paul Brooks wrote:

>They aren't talking infrastructure operators, they are referring to
>retail service providers - ISPs for most people.
>If you are within DSL range of an enabled exchange, you already have
>several hundred 'suppliers' to choose from. If you are on HFC, you have
>a choice of one (HFC network operators live in Bankworld, but I digress).
>If you have mobile 3G coverage, you have a choice of ~6 providers (?)
>over 3 sets of infrastructure - but you won't get your minimum peak 12 Mbps.

And like most systems, the devil is in the details. I'm in one of 
those outer suburbs where Telstra has installed limiting equipment, 
so the best DSL speed I can get is 1.5mbps. HFC does go by my house, 
which means the limit to one supplier (guess who again). Then there 
are the promises of multiple 3G providers. Well, that may seem 
reasonable, unless you have a bunch of hills around your house like 
my friend does. You can look at the pretty webpage with coverage, but 
as soon as you turn up to the provider store, they put your address 
in their refined system (not available to the public) to find out, 
sorry mate, we can't guarantee you'll get anything at your place.

So, no, the Libs are all confused about what would happen under their 
"plan" (**cough**). It all depends on where you live and what you 
need to do under the CURRENT available services. There won't be any 
more under their "plan" except perhaps more backhaul. But if you 
can't get to that backbone, won't matter a hill of beans.

Jan



Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
blog: http://janwhitaker.com/jansblog/
business: http://www.janwhitaker.com

Our truest response to the irrationality of the world is to paint or 
sing or write, for only in such response do we find truth.
~Madeline L'Engle, writer

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