[LINK] Brisbane network

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news
by Phillip Coorey and Ben Grubb, October 15th, 2010


THE Brisbane City Council has announced its own breakaway broadband 
project, promising residents and businesses they will have their own high-
speed fibre network within four years.

Saying Labor's $43 billion national broadband network would take too long 
to arrive in Brisbane, the Liberal lord mayor, Campbell Newman, said 
yesterday that his network could be delivered without cost to ratepayers 
through a deal with a private company, i3 Asia Pacific.

The commercial venture, into which i3 Asia Pacific will invest $600 
million, will use the city's sewer and stormwater ducts as conduits for 
the cables. 

It aims to deliver broadband to 463,000 homes.

The federal government and the Coalition are at loggerheads over Labor's 
$43 billion network, of which taxpayers will contribute about $27 
billion. Both sides sought to turn Mr Newman's announcement to their 
advantage yesterday.

The Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, noted the lack of detail 
surrounding the announcement but said it was ''recognition that fibre-to-
the-home was the ultimate future proof technology for Australians''.

He also noted Mr Newman's proposal had not undergone a cost-benefit 
analysis, a criticism the Coalition levels at Labor's scheme, which will 
deliver broadband across the nation. "The mayor's proposal clearly 
disputes Malcolm Turnbull's claims that people living in cities already 
have adequate broadband,'' Senator Conroy said.

Mr Turnbull, the opposition communications spokesman, told a conference 
in Melbourne on Wednesday that ''the majority of Australians already have 
access to fast broadband''.

Yesterday Mr Turnbull said that Mr Newman's proposal showed there was 
adequate private sector interest to build such networks. ''If this is 
feasible, why is the Commonwealth taxpayer picking up the tab?'' he said.

As part of the deal to form minority government with the independents, 
Labor shifted the emphasis of the network roll-out to rural and regional 
Australia and Mr Newman said Brisbane was not prepared to wait.

NBN Co, the company charged with building Labor's network, said it was 
business as usual and that it would continue its national roll-out.

The deal with i3 Asia Pacific would provide homes and businesses access 
to 100 megabits per second broadband, the same speeds Labor plans to 
offer.

i3 would act as a wholesaler, providing broadband capability to retailers 
such as Telstra and Optus. It would pay for the network and rent the 
infrastructure to internet service providers.

with Daniel Nancarrow

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Cheers,
Stephen