Ozzie prime minister Kevin Rudd has announced what will be one of the biggest government-sanctioned nationwide broadband initiatives in history: an $43 billion plan to bring a fat 100mbps fibre pipe to 90% of Australians.
The plan, which costs $US30.5 billion of our U.S. dollars, will rely on a massive infusion of government funds to get the ball rolling on the project, of which the taxpayers will own 51%. It will then be transitioned into a reliance on public sector investment, and the government plans to sell of its stake in the project within five years. It is expected to bring 37,000 jobs to unemployment-hindered Australia,
The one detail not yet decided obviously is pricing—set the price too low, and private telecom companies are pissed; too high, and no one will adopt it. But 90% fibre coverage for a country like Australia is an ambitious play (the other 10% will be served through an upgraded 10mbps satellite service).
Interesting reading the US’s take on the NBN. One point worth noting is that the Govt only plans on selling 5 years after it’s completed, which will be about 13 years from now…
[NYTimes]
feral
Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at 8:41 AMNow this is great news. Anyone see rudd getting grilled on ABC last night? He pretty much repeated this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU3tnS2_W3o
All good for industry, the country and the size of my butt.
Investing in the future of Bittorrent since 2010…
Lets hope they start in regional areas first!
Bendable
Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at 12:46 PMBit much to spend just for 21 million people. Can’t complain if it’s ‘your’ money though..HA!
z
Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at 5:00 PMIs it correct grammar to be using ‘an’ before saying $43 billion dollar plan? I’m seeing a lot of this ‘an’ instead of ‘a’ lately especially on this site. It feels as though someone is overcompensating or trying a little too hard.
Jake
Friday, December 25, 2009 at 10:10 PM@feral… eerr this is not good for your bittorrent if he plans on implementing that gov. filter as well.