The Government has offered Australia's three mobile operators, and vividwireless, renewal of their existing spectrum allocated on 15 year licences in the late 90s and early 2000s at set prices, while the Government expects to rake in $3 billion.
To compile the scorecard, Engineers Australia commissioned telecoms consultancy Market Clarity to report on the availability of telecoms infrastructure throughout Australia, by statistical division. It then analysed these data to arrive at its conclusions.
Engineers Australia CEO, Peter Taylor said: "The Engineers Australia report identifies the lack of a comprehensive strategic plan and long-term vision for Australia's telecommunications infrastructure as the major hindrance to better and more equitable services from the cities to the country. The standard and spread of the telecommunications infrastructure is at the core of the national interest to provide the means for business to grow in the Australian and the world marketplaces. What is needed is the development of a strategy that would encourage infrastructure providers to be more proactive in identifying and appraising future infrastructure projects. We also need a strategy that encourages the uptake of newer technologies sooner."
EA claims that, in general, the market for telecommunications services in rural and remote parts of Australia cannot commercially support duplication or, in some cases, any infrastructure. "Where this occurs, government funding could be justified on the basis of the economic and community equity benefits more broadly derived from the availability of telecommunications."
The Score Card is the latest in series that EA has produced in recent years assessing the planning, management, funding and provision of Australia's transport, water and energy infrastructure. EA intends for the 2007 Telecommunications Infrastructure Report Card "to raise awareness of the importance of telecommunications infrastructure to the community's social and economic well being and to generate debate on the appropriate level of telecommunications infrastructure required to meet Australia's needs."
Very noble. And Australia can debate as much as it likes but until government recognises the need for, develops and implements a strategic plan designed to realise a coherent vision for telecommunications in Australia such debate will be fruitless. Well we have a new government. Perhaps this time around things will be different.
Full access to the report card, including tables, maps and commentary for each state and territory, is available at www.engineersaustralia.org.au .
David Bass
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