[LINK] No batteries required in new broadband plan

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

<brd>
The headline (and maybe the story) is a bit misleading. It only refers 
to subscribers and exchanges. Don't know what happens at the nodes though.
</brd>

No batteries required in new broadband plan
by: Fran Foo
The Australian
April 11, 2013
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/in-depth/no-batteries-required-in-new-broadband-plan/story-e6frgaif-1226617728606

A VAST majority of National Broadband Network subscribers will not need 
a battery back-up solution under the Coalition's plan.

The Coalition is proposing that 71 per cent -- or 9 million -- premises 
will "plug into" the NBN under a fibre-to-the-node configuration using 
copper by 2019. Fibre will be rolled out to cabinets and street corners 
instead of directly to premises.

A small electrical current runs down a copper network to activate analog 
phones. During a power outage, batteries at phone exchanges keep the 
system alive.

Under Labor's $37.4 billion scheme, 93 per cent of households and 
businesses would be directly connected to fibre links by 2021.

Battery back-ups for voice services over Labor's NBN are required to 
ensure analog phones can be used for a few hours during a power blackout.
Digital Pass $1 for first 28 Days

Last August, the company building the network, NBN Co, revealed back-up 
batteries would be optional, following complaints about the previously 
mandatory unit.

An Abbott-led government would still roll out fibre-to-the-premises but 
only to 22 per cent or 2.8 million premises. It would be deployed in new 
housing estates or where copper has to be replaced over the next six years.

The Coalition's $20.4bn project promises speeds of at least 25 megabits 
per second, compared with Labor's 100 Mbps.

-- 

Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Sydney Australia
email: brd at iimetro.com.au
web:   www.drbrd.com
web:   www.problemsfirst.com
Blog:  www.problemsfirst.com/blog