James Riley
Monday, 05 October 2009 11:26
IT Policy -
Government Tech Policy
Page 1 of 2
Tiny wireless internet providers servicing the bush face an uncertain future as regional subsidy programs are cut and the NBN Company considers satellite options, the founder of pioneering rural outfit Yless4U Anthony Goonan says.
Most of the community-based rural ISPs had been made commercially
viable through successive Federal investment incentive schemes, but
risked being crushed by the NBN roll-out.
Goonan, who was last week invited to give evidence before the Senate
committee investigating the NBN initiative, said these services faced
an anxious wait to understand what technology the NBN Company planned
to roll into their areas.
Yless4U services communities and hamlets in the commuter border areas
of New South Wales and the ACT – some within 20 kilometres of the
national Parliament. It service areas includes the rural towns of
Bungendore and Braidwood.
Until Government releases geographic overlays that demonstrate what
technology will service which areas, the bush ISPs will not know
whether their business remains viable.
"It's just too early to say what the impact (of the NBN) will be on the
smaller players. It simply depends of where the operation is and what
technology (NBN Co uses) in that geography," Goonan said.
While supportive of the NBN initiative, Goonan says he is concerned
that wireless technologies are being overlooked, despite being the most
cost effective means of servicing the majority of the 10 per cent of
the Australian population that will not be connected to fibre.
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