Union slams Tasmanian NBN trial as election stunt
The Communications Union has branded NBN Co's trial of fibre via Aurora's power poles as a political stunt, because NBN Co has used that deployment method in the past.
The Communications Union has branded NBN Co's trial of fibre via Aurora's power poles as a political stunt, because NBN Co has used that deployment method in the past.
Tasmania is hoping to resurrect an old plan to use Aurora Energy's power pole infrastructure to deliver the fibre-to-the-premises NBN to ensure that the state does not get fibre to the node instead.
Three of the old guard of NBN Co executives will leave the company over the next few months as new CEO Bill Morrow starts to overhaul the government-owned company.
The Tasmanian NBN Company is planning to go to market for network optical transmission hardware in the next four weeks, according to chairman Doug Campbell, but the move hinges on its national sibling devising certain technical plans for the mainland.
Rural areas will be welcoming the government's decision to put its money where its politicising is, funnelling $250m into a regional fibre upgrade to six rural centres. Remedying over a decade of near-neglect at the hands of telecoms privatisation, the investment could be the firmest step yet for Labor's NBN dream — but with inevitable political questions and a looming election, Rudd and Conroy need to deliver, and quickly, to preserve the NBN's credibility.
Analysts have responded to the Federal Government's new NBN strategy with optimism, noting that while risky, the plan makes an important break from years of stagnation and promises an important new foundation for Australia's broadband future.
The debate over whether the National Broadband Network (NBN) should be run as a government body or a commercial enterprise that has had its share of acrimony. Yet with the Libs' latest shot across Labor's bow, Malcolm Turnbull has exposed a curious double-standard.
Dodo may not have the most unblemished customer service record as an ISP, but the entry of this internet survivor into Victoria's retail electricity market marks an important point in the evolution of deregulated markets. Taken to extremes, internet service providers will eventually become just service providers as new networked products let them offer everything from Foxtel to insurance — but can the vision become reality?
The AU$150,000 quotation from NBN Co to run fibre to an SA man's home may seem extravagant, but it's a great benchmark for satellite and wireless-targeted communities that could use group-buying strategies to broker an acceptable price.
Fibre network construction will continue for the NBN in Tasmania for at least another 36,000 premises while the government assesses a plan to use Aurora's pole infrastructure.