Conroy knocks the NBN knockers

Stephen Withers
Tuesday, 28 April 2009 13:26

Business IT - Technology

Suggestions that the National Broadband Network is just about downloading movies faster are the equivalent of a 19th century assertion that electricity is just about having a better light to read in bed at night, Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, said today.

In an address to the National Press Club, Conroy stressed the infrastructure role played by broadband in a modern economy.

He was probably being polite, as the version of the "downloading movies faster" jibe I've heard most often is "downloading porn faster", but there you go.

Describing the Liberals as "the party of the past" that "failed to undertake critical infrastructure investment for 12 long years", Conroy set out a number of ways in which the NBN could be a crucial part of Australia's future.

While acknowledging that the NBN will have applications in media distribution, a reliable, high-speed network - especially one serving areas outside the major cities - will have significant business-to-business applications.

Conroy also characterised broadband as "green technology". (We'll overlook the emissions attributed to the distribution of spam for now.)

Smart grids involving remote adjustment of lights, temperature and so on to smooth the peaks and troughs of energy consumption could result in costs savings to consumers between 5 and 25 percent. (You don't actually need broadband for that, just an always-on connection. But the more people that are on an IP network - even if they think it's just a phone line - the greater the potential benefits.)

What else is green about the NBN? See page 2.