Cornered!
Cornered! is a blog devoted, most of the time anyway, to telecommunications: local and global issues, technology, people and trends from the perspective of someone who's been reporting, analysing and commenting on the industry since the dark ages (BC - before competition). Sometimes serious, sometimes flippant, sometimes frivolous. Controversial, analytical, informative, amusing, but never boring; a vehicle for examinations of important issues and observations on my encounters and experiences in an industry where polarised views and hyperbole are the norm.
Follow the Australian Telecommunications scene NEWSLETTER- FREE TRIAL

Blog

Technology news and Jobs arrow Cornered! arrow What if Australia held a broadband party and nobody came?
What if Australia held a broadband party and nobody came? E-mail
by Stuart Corner   
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
And it was also today that both communications minister, Stephen Conroy, and Telstra seized on the results of a CEO survey conducted by Australian Industry Group and Deloitte claiming that it vindicated the need for the National Broadband Network. ASAP.

Conroy said: "The High Speed to Broadband survey notes an urgent need for broadband improvement in Australia to support business growth and productivity."

Well, no. Because the survey made no attempt to determine whether businesses are pushing the limits of what is available today, or simply ticking boxes in a questionnaire to express a vague wishlist of broadband requirements.

Telstra had the hide to urge the government use the report as an excuse to award it the NBN contract right now! Quilty said: "This report is extremely timely as the Prime Minister is holding a summit with small business this Friday. Announcing that the Government is expediting the rollout of the National Broadband Network would be a clear demonstration of its commitment to securing the future of Australia's small businesses in this difficult economic climate."

In your dreams, Telstra! Rather than rush the NBN through and hand it to Telstra on a plate, it is time for the government to put the whole thing on hold; to demonstrate that it and not Telstra is running telecoms policy and that it is not being held to ransom by either the dominant former monopoly or by the opportunism of foreign investors.

As Broad said: "Rather than have this debate through a bidding process, there should be an independent, non-aligned body and the Industry Commission would be a good place to start."

O'Sullivan devoted much of his speech this morning to boasting about Optus' achievements as the champion of competition in its almost two decades of existence. He branded the NBN as "one of one of the biggest transformations since competition began in 1992."
CONTINUED



 
< Next story in category   Previous story in the category >
iTWire user statistics Visitors last 30 days
694,279
Subscribers 15,210
#1 independent technology news advertise here
  •   *  
  • Search
  • AdvSeach
  • Login
  • Events
  • FreeStuff

- Advertisement -

Featured Whitepapers

Cornered! - Telecoms blog
Cornered! is a blog on all things tele-communication from the perspective of one who has observed, analysed commented and reported on the industry since the dark ages (BC - before competition).
Follow iTWire on Twitter

About iTWire

iTWire is all about technology news, information, jobs and community for the IT and telecommunications industry professional. Subscribe to our free ICT daily newsletter