[LINK] Is the NBN Ready for Extreme Weather?

[tomk]

On 7/12/2012 11:06 a.m., Paul Brooks wrote:
> On 7/12/2012 12:45 AM, tomk wrote:
>> On 6/12/2012 9:34 p.m., Paul Brooks wrote:
>>> We already do - any mobile phone can make a call to 000 through any mobile network. Even if the handset does not have a SIM in it, it can make an emergency call through any network it has a signal from.
>>>
>>> Paul.
>>>
>>>
>>> -------- Original Message --------
>>> From: Kim Holburn <kim.holburn at gmail.com>
>>>
>>>
>>> As far as the roaming thing goes, if we had a system that allowed sharing of cells in a unified network then perhaps we could have a system where companies could cooperate to give us more coverage...nah, it won't happen at the moment.
>> Paul, I think he was referring to that rare non-Australian Telco thing
>> called "Peering"
>> Ibid: Link Archives....
>> Optus and Vodafone already peer and all three telcos share power
>> generation, towers and other assets, but not yet consumers.
>> Their settlement system doesn't allow for peering on the 3G network -
>> too hard with consumer mobile data expectations.
> Actually, 'peering'  is when traffic from a customer on one network can reach a
> customer on a different network. Calls between networks have been available from day 1
> as part of 'any to any connectivity', so all mobile networks 'peer'.
>
> I think he correctly used the word 'roaming', when a handset registered to one network
> is permitted to connect and use the infrastructure of a different network when the
> 'home network' is not available.
>
> Lets not rewrite the dictionary when attempting to make a point - this isn't the
> Looking Glass.
>
> P.
>
>
Ummm, I think Roaming is settlement based, Peering is ex-gratia.
Pretty sure he meant peering but you have interpreted as "Roaming".

At this time Australia is still in the stranglehold of "Roaming" 
agreements (or lack of) between the carriers.
Peering is a network point that is open to all users. As in 
Multi-lateral peering.
Roaming is a peering point where the parties have exclusive settlement 
arrangements between them - as in bi-lateral peering.

I believe Kim was dreaming (as in good fairy granting a wish) about a 
world where any BTS would authenticate his phone (on a fallback basis - 
i.e.: no other BTS data channel capacity available in the region) and 
allow him to use voice/data services back to his own carrier of choice 
with of course the un-stated rider that it not be based on unfair 
commercial practice of "Roaming".

Pretty sure that 's what he meant. But perhaps he was merely referring 
to the fact that Telstra use unfair market advantage to control their 
subscriber numbers and explicitly refuse to enter into commercially 
viable bilateral peering arrangements with some carriers. (errr, Roaming).
The fact that I believe the ACMA has been remiss in analysing this in 
more detail needs to be balanced by my opinion that were I in Telstra's 
shoes, unfortunately with the paucity of Spectrum and the restrictions 
of 15  Mhz per location... I would probably do exactly the same thing or 
have a network that couldn't plan for peak loads.

TomK