[LINK] NBN retail costs

[Greg Taylor]

My experience with 3G is that performance is acceptable in metro areas 
(mostly) but slow to non-existent elsewhere.  Low-end 3G plans may well 
suit certain users with low download demands and a need for mobility, 
but is that likely to be their only network connection or will they also 
expect to connect to a WiFi network when at home? And 3G is typically 
only single user. A home network can be shared amongst multiple 
users/devices, and with TVs, PVRs, game consoles etc. all becoming 
network capable, high-speed broadband applications at home demand 
performance that 3G/4G can't compete with.

A home ADSL2+ plan with download limits in the 50-200GB range (depending 
on ISP) can be obtained for around $50-$60. Divide that between 3-4 
family users and it kills any 3G offering on price-per-user and 
performance (although not on mobility). If NBN can offer higher speeds 
than ADSL2 at similar or lower monthly subscriptions (as seems likely) 
it should have no trouble finding willing customers, including all 
existing ADSL customers for starters.

As others keep saying, wireless and fibre are complementary, not 
competing, technologies. Horses for courses.

Greg

On 2011/03/09 7:10 PM, stephen at melbpc.org.au wrote:
> It seems to me, unfortunately, it's very possible, that our NBN could
> price itself out of consideration, for lots of Aussie broadband users.
>
> For eg:<http://broadbandguide.com.au/virgin-mobile/plan/1237-5127-mobile-
> broadband-1.5gb--usb-modem>
>
> The above is virtually-anywhere wireless broadband, and with a free USB
> modem, no set up fees, the Optus 3G/HSPA (Dual Band) Network, and 1.5GB
> of monthly shaped data, with no excess usage charges, *for $19 a month*
>
> Or for $14 a month when it's bundled with a post-paid mobile phone plan.
>
> Sure, it's 1.5G. But as some linkers know, i own and manage an FM radio
> station within our 12 station network. (And, now cover most of Northern
> Victoria). Within our network, we relay our signal from the studio with
> the best DJ, and MP3 music around six hours every day and 7 days a week.
>
> In other words we stream audio for 42 hours a week between our stations.
> And none of us have ever gone over 1.5G / month. So, for normal MP3 use
> six hours a day around home, in our experience 1.5G broadband is plenty.
>
> So, 3G broadband that's *mobile* with sufficient data, for dialup costs.
>
> That's $228 (or $168) a year, for mobile broadband, vrs $720+ fixed NBN?
>
> Perhaps somewhat of a no-brainer, unless NBN Co will lower access costs?
>