[LINK] Wireless Broadband for Regional Australia

[Tom Worthington]

On 28/12/13 17:41, Richard responded to my posting of 28/12/13:

> ... anywhere genuinely fast connections are available, and people
> subscribe to them like mad?

Good question. Does anyone have statistics for the take-up rate for high 
speed broadband in other countries? The take-up rate for the NBN in 
Tasmania was reported to be 38.5% after three years: 
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-16/questions-over-nbn-take-up-rate-in-tasmania/4892792

The previous government was not too worried about the NBN take-up rate, 
as the copper network was to be switched off, so consumers would not 
have much of a choice.

> And look at the trade-offs. The picocell model ...

Yes, there are disadvantages to wireless broadband, but it is being 
installed for mobile users anyway. My suggestion was that rather than 
install two separate broadband infrastructures, the one infrastructure 
could be used for mobile and home users. The one fibre backbone would 
have cells attached as well as copper and fibre connections to homes.

To expand on my posting:

>> ... With advanced video compression 4K TV can be carried on existing
>> free-to-air TV spectrum and wireless broadband. ...

The advanced compression I had in mind is the HEVC codec, which is 
reported to allow HD TV at 6 Mbps and 4k TV at 12 to 30 Mbps. This could 
be carried on a 4G LTE-A network, using the Multicast-broadcast 
single-frequency network (MBSFN) option.

See:

1. In "High-efficiency video coding will help bring 4K video to internet 
TV" (Network World, 01/25/13), Steven Vaughan-Nichols suggests that the 
HEVC codec will allow 4k TV at 20 to 30Mbps: 
http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/high-efficiency-video-coding-will-help-bring-4k-video-internet-tv

2. In "Netflix is bringing 4K streaming to TVs with H.265 and House of 
Cards" (GEEK NEWSLETTER, 19 Dec 2013), Russell Holly suggests 12 and 15 
Mbps: 
http://www.geek.com/news/netflix-is-bringing-4k-streaming-to-tvs-with-h-265-and-house-of-cards-1580160/

3. Multicast-broadcast single-frequency network (MBSFN): 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multicast-Broadcast_Single_Frequency_Network

>> Home health care doesn't need high bandwidth. ...

A person's vital signs (body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, 
and respiratory rate) would only need about 10 bps to transmit.  More 
sophisticated monitors require more bandwidth, bit still far short of 
broadband, such as such as electrocardiography at 4 kbps: 
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/228876616_Performance_analysis_of_the_IEEE_802.15._4_based_ECG_monitoring_network/file/79e4150e8748b7d578.pdf

But the greatest benefit from home health monitoring is likely to come 
from checking on the patient's general level of activity and asking them 
how they are. Advice to doctors, commissioned by the Department of 
Health recommends a minimum of 640 x 480 Video, with a minimum 
throughput on the link of 384kbit/s should be available, which far less 
than high speed broadband: 
http://www.mbsonline.gov.au/internet/mbsonline/publishing.nsf/Content/connectinghealthservices-guidance

>> On-line education doesn't need high speed broadband, it needs trained
>> teachers and some educational content. ...

While students like rich multimedia, this does not necessarily improve 
learning. The report "Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online 
Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies" from 
the US Department of Education found that video does not improve online 
learning: 
http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/tech/evidence-based-practices/finalreport.pdf

>> Australia now has free Internet access in public libraries, which is an
>> achievement. ...

Internet in libraries builds on the library's traditional role providing 
access to information and literacy. Universities and TAFEs are turning 
their libraries into learning centres, with computers in place of books. 
They are keeping the staff to help the students, not only work the 
computers but with finding, using and creating information: 
http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4193&context=etd

The Gungahlin Town Centre Library in Canberra is a good example, where 
the one building accommodates the public library, a school library, a 
TAFE campus and broadband connected community rooms. This could be 
extended to provide support for university students as well:
http://blog.highereducationwhisperer.com/2013/09/university-satellite-campuses-like-co.html


-- 
Tom Worthington, PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617, Australia 
http://www.tomw.net.au