[LINK] Only 4,000 homes hooked up to NBN

[Tom Koltai]

> On 3/01/2012 10:15 PM, Ash Nallawalla wrote:
> > I can only use my past thinking to contemplate whether I'd 
> sign up or 
> > not -- the cost and data allocation. ...
> If it's any help, the general experience seems to be that retail 
> providers offer slightly more for slightly less on the NBN. 
> For example, 
> my current plan is 1GB peak plus 4GB offpeak at the 
> satellite's maximum 
> speed for $48.95 per month 
> <http://www.skymesh.net.au/plans/satellite.php>. Under the NBN, they 
> offer 3GB peak plus 3GB offpeak at the same speed for $44.95 
> per month 
> <http://www.skymesh.net.au/plans/nbnsat.php>. That's satellite, of 
> course, landline is a different kettle of fish.
> 
> In Tasmania, reported landline speeds are sometimes orders of 
> magnitude 
> higher on NBN, download caps slightly higher and costs slightly lower.
> 
> Generalisation and oversimplification admittedly, but that's 
> my general 
> impression.

After Paul Budde's comments about the rollout I took one of my
"looksees" at the NBN website. http://www.nbnco.com.au/our-network/

Having done a couple of small rollouts, I must admit to being suitably
impressed with the thoroughness of the NBN's preparations.
The devil in these matters is always in the planning.
It's easy to say, let's just dig up the road... But somewhere under that
road there are Gas Mains, electrical distribution high tension cables,
water mains and "yuk" sewerage.
(The average cost per metre to survey, detect, trench, lay and make good
in 1999 was around the three thousand per lineal metre in CBD areas
(including traffic control). I would estimate that figure hasn't
decreased all that much. Either way, it takes T....I....M....E)

By way of logistical comparison, Telstra has taken 20 years to rollout
their 2G then 2.5G and 3G wireless coverage consisting of approx 20,000
antenna locations with initially mainly ISDN PRI (Ea) and 900 MHz radio
backhaul links. 
An additional valid checksum would be the vivid wireless rollout of 150
Base stations in six months, but after twelve months of prepatory work.

>From that perspective, the NBN rollout appears impeccably planned and
even if cancelled by a future Liberal Government, because of it's
initial regional focus, has a strong chance of adding considerably to
Australia's long term rural economic well being. Let's be real, when are
Telstra likely to rollout 4G in Warrnambool, Apollo Bay-Marengo or
Wonthaggi. Probably not early on their rollout upgrade list.

Gungahlin residents will be pleased to note...
http://www.nbnco.com.au/assets/maps/gungahlin-act-rollout-map.pdf So
goodbye to those horrible Rims.

After all. The city folk already have 24 Mbit DSL and 20-84 Mbit 4G
(cough cough).

It does appear that Mr.Conroy is listening to the people of Australia.
We may attribute his decision making to political motivation, but I must
say it is nice to see a Government respecting the needs of the
constituency.
The constituents in the country areas will probably say a big thank-you
by subscribing in greater numbers than the city folk.
After all the city folk have the benefit of greater untethered speeds.
(Unless you live in Gungahlin....)

Either way we look at the NBN, the Regional focus has me placing a big
tick next to what I am calling, the CQ strategy. CQ ? Conroy Quigley.

TomK