Australia's NBN and FttN - fibre to the nowhere?

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Friday, 08 August 2008 09:56

Opinion and Analysis

He also notes that “In none of the other countries that are steaming ahead of Australia was it necessary to prepare extensive infrastructure maps for discussion – the incumbent was either directly or indirectly 'forced' to open up its infrastructure and get on with the job”.

Budde then says that building an alternative network without Telstra’s co-operation can’t be done, with Budde recommending the Government makes “a policy decision to force Telstra to cooperate” lest we be caught up in more “delays, submissions, investigations, court cases, etc.”

Budde goes into much more detail, but ends by noting that other countries are aiming for 20Mbps to 50Mbps (minimum!) by 2010-2015, and Australia is still talking about a 12Mbps solution, clearly putting us well behind the rest of the world – and we haven’t even started yet.

My final take? The Rudd Government had better hurry up, or the digital divide will see Australia “enjoying” a new definition for fraudband: 12Mbps.