[LINK] Brisbane network

[Richard Chirgwin]

  I think it's a pretty good idea, in deployment terms, BUT!!! Having 
just interviewed the boss of i3 (gotta edit it into a podcast), I can 
say that even i3 doesn't regard the deployment costs as providing a 
comparison to those of the NBN.

RC

On 15/10/10 4:08 PM, stephen at melbpc.org.au wrote:
> 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
>
> --
>
> Cheers,
> Stephen
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