[LINK] NBN build cost 'underestimated': analysts

[Tom Koltai]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: link-bounces at mailman.anu.edu.au 
> [mailto:link-bounces at mailman.anu.edu.au] On Behalf Of Bernard 
> Robertson-Dunn
> Sent: Friday, 8 April 2011 2:30 PM
> To: link
> Subject: [LINK] NBN build cost 'underestimated': analysts
> 
> 
> NBN build cost 'underestimated': analysts
> Ben Grubb
> April 8, 2011 - 12:39PM
> SMH 
> http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/nbn-build-cos
> t-underestimated-analysts-20110408-1d6xx.html


Heh!

Anecdote time:

Story 1.
In the early nineties, we built infrastructure in a certain country (not
Aus) with ditchwitch type machines along the edge of the Railway
easements.

A team of five people were laying Fibre at the average rate of 6
kilometres per day. (No roads to cross, and where there were, we bolted
cable tray to the side of the bridge/aquaduct).

With several teams operating we covered 1600 lineak miles with access
fibre in less than three months.
That included the team that were crossing roads using stormwater
easements, crossing footpaths and terminating in commercial properties. 
 
What would have slowed us down was if we had to do it with "council"
approvals and the bureaucracy of inspectors looking over our shoulders
constantly.
We laid it first and then registered the assets with the individual
"councils" after the event and paid the fees for late filings.

The fibre we layed then is still in use today.

The NBN construction process is failing because of the Top heavy nature
of the regulatory environment that the NBN is a part of.

To succeed, possibly it needs more of an entrepreneurial viewpoint and
less of a finger pointing, cover my arse please approach.
The new works manager should be hired on a miles per day layed basis.

The installers should be Greenfield plumbing contractors.
This overhead cabling nonsense really will not win any hearts or minds
of the people of Australia.
 
Anyone talking overhead scenarios, obviously lives in an upmarket suburb
where all the cabling is underground.

Story 2.
It strikes me that cable in water ways is an excellent way to get from
point "A" to "B" economically.
We layed over 1200 miles of fibre in waterways. Again, without
regulatory knowledge or interference until after the event.

Alternate Scenario 1.
I wonder why no-one has layed a fibre around Australia, 20 kms out with
multiple entry points at every town ???
Total cost ? Less than 30 million.

Conclusionary Opinion.
The problem with large infrastructure projects is that as no-one has
done them before, using the mindset of small infrastructure projects
just doesn't work.
Of course the costs will blow out.




/body