Beverley Head
Thursday, 26 August 2010 12:21
IT Policy -
Government Tech Policy
Page 1 of 2
Satellite operator NewSat has launched a broadside against the National Broadband Network calling on the three independent MPs who hold the key to forming the next federal government to look at alternative technology solutions.
In a half page advertisement which ran in this morning’s Australian Financial Review NewSat chief executive officer Adrian Ballantine published an open letter headlined “exploding the broadband myth” in which he strove to draw parallels between the independent MPs and his independent communications company. He said the independent MPs needed to be fully informed when making decisions that might impact the rollout of a national broadband communications network.
Clearly NewSat has a vested interest in the outcome of the current tussles to form Government and decide the fate of the NBN, as it is scheduled to launch Jaibiru-1, which it claims as the first fully Australian owned satellite, in late 2012. If the NBN in its current form is shelved, NewSat might stand a better chance of getting a slice of the action.
According to NBN Co chief Mike Quigley, under the current scheme only 200,000 Australian premises would require satellite access, representing just 3 per cent of the NBN.
Mr Ballantine today argued that for most of Australia’s geography broadband delivered over satellite would be faster and cheaper. What was right for the city he argued was not necessarily good for the outback.
“Yet unbelievably we are the one country in the OECD without a space policy. This illustrates that the key decision makers who have shaped broadband policies have been lacking the right knowledge about what is possible, what is needed and what is the right solution.”
The Government has however begun to tackle this issue and has established a Space Policy Unit which is charged with developing policy for Government consideration. It has also launched a $40 million space research grant programme, with applications for grants due by 3pm this afternoon.
