[LINK] Congestion (was Re: NBN to cost 24 times South Korea's faster network, says research body)

[Stilgherrian]

On 11/02/2011, at 11:07 AM, Paul Brooks wrote:
> Yes, with fixed wireless the operator has a similar level of visibilty and control,
> and provided they don't overbook the capacity there should be no congestion.
> Unfortunately the capacity of a wireless tower is likely to become filled more
> quickly, so the refusal to set up new services once the available bandwidth is all
> reserved could be interpreted as a form of congestion. The operator would call this
> 'admission control'.

The other issue is that even if the number of connections per fixed wireless cell is pre-determined, if that number is "everyone" -- as it would be if wireless is providing "the" national broadband CAN -- then you either end up with a lot of slow connections per cell or very closely-spaced cells indeed.

Network engineering consultant Narelle Clark has done some spectrum modelling. She reckons that to deliver the same speeds that you get from wired links you'd need to have a base station at the end of every suburban street.

Crikey article: "Coalition broadband: a wireless tower in every street"
http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/08/16/coalition-broadband-a-wireless-tower-in-every-street/

"Patch Monday" podcast: "Understanding the broadband election"
http://www.zdnet.com.au/understanding-the-broadband-election-339305235.htm

Stil


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