[LINK] NBN and the last 100 metres

[Greg Taylor]

[Was: Re: [LINK] Four Corners NBN & NBN retail cost and 12 year 
technology bell curve.]

On 2011/04/12 9:34 AM, Tom Koltai wrote:
> As much as I like the Liberals, in this instance, Malcolm is partly
> wrong. The fibre needs to be rolled out. However Steven is also partly
> wrong... Possibly the fibre could be just to the kerb and in some
> instances back to the node.
>
> Here I refer to TomW's comment:
>
> Quote/
> The definitions can lead to strange results. As an example, my apartment
> building has a Transact fibre optic node in the basement. But this does
> not count as "fibre to the home" for statistical purposes, as the last
> 20m or so of cable from the node to the apartment is copper. In contrast
>
> NBN "fibre" connection for a house is copper for the last few metres,
> but that is on one property so counts as "fibre".
> /quote
>
> Copper/70+ GHz for the last 100-250 metres is an acceptable delivery
> technical solution.
> Any household that wants fibre to the home, should trench to the kerb.
>
> All Australians should get out there with pick and shovel and join in.
> What's wrong with this country ?
> Where's that old, "We can do this" attitude?

I have some questions for any NBN gurus here.

It's not clear to me where NBN fibre to homes is planned to terminate. 
It seems it will be somewhere on/in the house, but not every home has 
easy access to the most convenient location.

1. In suburbs/towns with existing underground ducting, the telephone 
cable is typically ducted, and many properties will present obstacles to 
new trenches, e.g. concrete driveways, paths etc. Can fibre be pulled 
through these narrow telephone ducts? If not, who is responsible for the 
cost of new trench work on residential property?

2. Re Tom K's "copper/70+ GHz for the last 100-250 metres", does that 
mean existing telephone cabling? Wouldn't that require power to each 
home's footpath phone pit? Are you suggesting a FTTN solution instead of 
FTTH? I thought that debate was done and dusted.

3. My existing ADSL modem and Ethernet patch panel are located some 20m 
from the external point of entry of the telephone cable to the house, 
via telephone wiring inside the walls. The house is wired with Cat5e, 
but I guess I'm up for some re-wiring when NBN arrives, presuming the 
fibre terminates at the existing point of entry to the house?

Cheers,

Greg