[LINK] Is the NBN Ready for Extreme Weather?

[Tom Worthington]

Frank Yardley from the NCCARF Emergency Management Network at RMIT 
University pointed out a Senate Inquiry into preparedness for extreme 
weather events. It invites submissions on the preparedness of major 
infrastructure, including telecommunications: 
http://www.aph.gov.au/parliamentary_business/committees/senate_committees?url=ec_ctte/extreme_weather/tor.htm

My suggestion would be that as a matter of policy, the combination of 
the NBN and mobile phone networks should be made as reliable as the old 
PSTN was. This should not be just for voice calls but for data as well.

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) used underground cables and 
switching centers with backup power supplies. The system would therefore 
work during power failures, floods, cyclones, fires and other disasters. 
The NBN relies on mains power in the customer's premises to function. 
While there is provision for battery backup where a voice service is 
provided, many people will be using VoIP via the Internet, where no 
battery backup is provided. Also the fiber optic cable may be more 
vulnerable to damage, where it enters the customer's premises. Mobile 
mobile phone towers may be more vulnerable to damage in disasters.


-- 
Tom Worthington FACS CP, TomW Communications Pty Ltd. t: 0419496150
PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617, Australia  http://www.tomw.net.au
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards
Legislation

Adjunct Lecturer, Research School of Computer Science,
Australian National University http://cs.anu.edu.au/courses/COMP7310/