[LINK] Points, lines & curves

[David Boxall]

On 13/02/2011 10:55 AM, Jan Whitaker wrote:
> ...
> We've had a bit of exploration on link about the value of redundancy,
> a type of diversification (of access/service). We didn't have much
> redundancy before the mobile network, but now it's expected. So do we
> pull out the alternative connections? (copper and wifi in areas that
> can use fibre) Is it economically justifiable to maintain? Do you
> mothball these so there is a backstop?
>
Should we have kept the overland telegraph as a backup to telephones? 
Change is scary, but can we stop it?

> Aggregation is another aspect of this: if you put all the comms on
> the fibre to a particular house (I'm not talking about the range of
> install for the particular range of houses by using wireless and
> satellite), and that single connection goes out, you lose the
> channels of communication....
We don't have mobiles? We can't walk across the street and talk to 
someone? There are no public phones?

> If TV goes to all-wired in the future,
> shut down the open broadcast towers, or radio goes all online instead
> of open airwaves because those frequencies can be better used for
> something else, then we are at risk.
>
What risk? Will the spectrum cease to exist or will we potentially take 
advantage of whatever it's being "better used for"?

> Phasing out (exponentially?? ;-) ) is another consideration in the system.
>

Sorry Jan; change is fearsome, but beyond a point fear is pathology.

-- 
David Boxall                    |  Dogs look up to us
                                |  And cats look down on us
http://david.boxall.id.au       |  But pigs treat us as equals
                                                    --Winston Churchill