OzHub, the Macquarie Telecom-led cloud computing alliance, has come down firmly on the side of Optus over the copyright controversy surrounding Optus TV Now, warning that any moves to change the law "risk branding Australia a global luddite state."
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David Hague
Thursday, 26 August 2010 17:56
With all the talk about the NBN, most of the discussion and analysis has been based on “city folk” from what I have seen. So in the interests of balanced reporting, I thought it opportune to give a perspective from “the bush”.
I have been involved as a journalist in IT since 1979 and seen all sides of it. I have experienced tech from the Gold Coast, Perth metro, Sydney metro and currently reside in a small country town in the south west of WA, and just out of reach of the exchange for ADSL. I am a publisher, journalist, filmmaker and commentator in this realm on an ongoing basis. The ‘net is vital to me.
My internet connection switches between 3G wireless and HSPA+ depending on the weather, and if the rabbit sneezes somewhere in the 7 acres my accommodation is plonked. At times, there is none at all. ADSL is not an option as the exchange is too far away by about 1Km I am told.
But there are other considerations too. Radio via the ABC is almost impossible crackling in and out as it wants on the AM band, and commercial AM simply cannot be got here. Bear in mind I am 7Km from the nearest major town. Of course FM simply does not exist.
So what about TV? Well there is ABC, SBS GWN (prime the eastern states) and WIN. Oddly, on the analogue side, ABC and SBS cannot be received at all and GWN/WIN despite all the best attempts at top notch antennas and powered boosters is snowy, and in the city, would be unacceptable. On the digital spectrum however, ABC is mostly excellent, but from the same tower, SBS is only available at night and then only if that damn rabbit sneezes. GWN/WIN are not available digitally as yet, and “maybe November” is the mantra. I won’t be holding my breath.
Now I am not a commercial TV beast, only really wanting to see Formula 1 and the V8 Supercars. Yes I could get Foxtel, but why pay to see things that my city cousins get for nix? So my motor sport fixes come from the ‘net, and I can see F1 live with the UK broadcast and commentators (which is the best, although I have in desperation also watched a Polish transmission as the rabbit was on strike) using my wireless connection. But it can drop out at a moment’s notice and always at a crucial part of the race, guaranteed.
V8 Supercars I have to suffer with a snow blizzard making the track it appears, very treacherous. Although I have to say the drivers seem to cope with the conditions quite well.
The rest of my viewing is either ABC or increasingly, via iView using my PS3 as the hub to my Sony Bravia. Remember though, this is via wireless, and is flaky dependent on the weather and that bloody rabbit.
So Abbot’s plan for the ‘net would not help me in any shape or form. I would simply have what I have now. BUT, put in fibre (I can have a phone here so no reason fibre can’t go in) and what a major difference that would be. I could get all the things my city counterparts get, and why shouldn’t I? I pay the same taxes, I just happen to live in a different location?
And that is simply my argument. Wireless is a stop gap; I admit without it, I would have no ‘net connection at all, barring dialup. And that means that in my business, allowing the fact I should in this day and age be able to choose where I live due to the advances we have made in communications, I simply could not operate.
So where wireless works, as said it is a stop gap. The NBN is the future – well into the future – and should be embraced, not just by city livers, but especially by “the bush”. It opens a whole new world whereas wireless simply stagnates it.
All my TV channels, radio – FM and AM – can be broadcast via it and then there is all the other things that have been mentioned in the commercial communications world such as e-health and things we have not even thought of yet!
It must happen and allow ALL of Australia access to the best of communications.
If only it made the need to travel 200Km round trip to get a prescription on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday – despite this being a major hub community of thousands of people. There is still a long way to go and that’s another story.
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