[LINK] Telstra boss warns on NBN, 5G network 'wave' | The New Daily

[David]

On Thursday, 1 August 2019 08:44:24 AEST Antony Broughton Barry wrote:
> https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/tech/2019/07/31/nbn-5g-telstra/

> “While latency can be slightly annoying when streaming a video or loading a web page, it is mission critical in many of the applications in automation and robotics,” he said.  “Imagine for a moment two self-driving cars approaching each other at 100km/h … latency is critically important in that type of situation.”

Does Andy Penn seriously believe that example of a potential 5G application is realistic?  Or is this just another example of silly group-think among upper management?

> Dr Alizadeh [from Syd.Univ.] criticised Mr Penn for “hijacking a very important conversation we need to have about the NBN” by implying that “the NBN is the way it is and we have to finish it and move onto 5G”.  [...]
> 
> “It’s a very simplistic approach,” Dr Alizadeh said.

He's certainly right there.  We have the NBN, sabotaged by Abbott and the Coalition right wing, and duplicated pay-TV and mobile networks, all resulting in much higher initial & operational costs. 

But I think the important conversation we need to have involves evidence-based policy on the cost / benefit / risk of potential 5G applications and the most economically efficient way of implementing a 5G network.  Are we going to go through all this again when 6G or 7G comes along?  Please, more rational thought and no more ideological or vested-interest arm waving.

Or is that too much to hope for?

David L.