Despite the fact that NBNCo is getting its funding (and there’s a lot of it) from the government, it’s important to remember that the company responsible for building our next-generation broadband network is still very much a startup. Which means that so far, we haven’t really heard too much in the way of NBNCo selling itself to consumers. But it looks like that’s starting to change.
Last week’s activation of the NBN in Armidale was a huge step forward for not only the network, but also in the way that NBNCo promotes itself. Sure, it was a gala event with the Prime Minister, Stephen Conroy and Tony Windsor rubbing shoulders with NBNCo executives and the first Armidale NBN customers, but it was also a key turning point for the way that NBNCo shared its message.
Before last week’s launch, NBNCo was focussed on what it did best – preparation for and the rolling out of a world-class fibre network across Australia. Because the company was doing what all successful startups do in the early stages – working their butts off to make sure everything works – critics of the NBN were able to get a foothold and start spreading misinformation and doubt about the network’s viability.
That misinformation has been fodder for transforming the NBN from an exciting piece of infrastructure that will benefit the country for generations to come to a political football that both sides of the political fence are trying to kick the crap out of.
But the Armidale launch shows a real change in the approach from NBNCo to spread its message. The company has released high quality videos like the one above and the fibre bomb we saw last week. They’ve begun sharing photos and video with media using online cloud based services like DropBox. The NBNCo website is beginning to collate the online video and audio recordings that help share its message with the world. As the rollout of fibre grows across the country and more and more people are connected, we can expect even more communication from the broadband network.
Being a startup is exciting and hard work, but it’s only once you break through that first stage and people start understanding the benefits of your service that you can really succeed as a company. And following the Armidale NBN launch, it looks like NBNCo is ready to take that next step.
TSH
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 4:25 PMIt’s too late to do anything about it now folks – the money’s as good as spent, so you may as well get on board and get the project done quickly and with full accountability. No point opposing it anymore *sigh*.
Chris
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 8:16 PMAnd why exactly were you opposed to it? Lack of imagination?
Rob
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 4:33 PMWow, looking forward to all those people in Armidale now working from home, regardless of their job, and having medical operations via the Net… because that’s why we needed superfast broadband across the entire nation at everyone’s doorstep… wasn’t it? Wasn’t it? Labor said so, so it must be true.
Antonia
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 6:48 PMDo you also wish to be back in time where the only cheap communication was snail mail?
Stop banging a puerile political drum and rejoice in the infrastructure we are *all* going to get.
Namarrgon
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 7:44 PMOnly a few people or businesses really *need* it today. But ask again in 7 years when it’s finished rolling out to everyone.
In 1988 I used a 1200/75bps modem to do my university assignments from home. Now I use an 8Mbps modem to work from home for a overseas company, and that’s more or less adequate for my needs (I couldn’t do today’s work on the 1500kbps connection I had around 5-6 years ago). That’s a long-term trend of almost 50% growth in bandwidth each year, which is about typical.
Projecting forward 7 years, and at 45% growth my typical bandwidth requirements will probably be ~100Mbps – just as the NBN arrives at my door. 7 years after that, and history shows I’ll likely be needing 1.3Gbps. Luckily, we won’t be hitting fibre’s top speeds (with today’s 26Tbps tech) until at least 2045.
People’s needs range up and down that curve, of course. But no matter who you are, I guarantee that by the end of this decade you’ll be finding current ADSL speeds to be almost unusable for anything but the basics.
Chris
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 8:17 PMSo you didn’t want it, and now you want it everywhere at once?
BTW it’s in Tasmania too.
Travis
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 8:53 PMYeah & Abbot referenced the bible when explaining to someone how gay marriage is wrong. And you know Abbot only tells the truth(he has admitted to lying on several occasions) and the bible isn’t made up at all.
Try to troll harder next time.
Korra
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 4:50 PMI honestly cant see any downsides to faster internet. Our internet is years away from America and England and we’re finally, slowly but surely catching up. City by city, town by town.
Maybe now they will catch up with that R-18+ rating for games eh?
highwind
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 4:41 PMWell we’re planning to do that in S.A. regardless of the rest of the states :D
http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/games/sa-supports-r18-games-but-only-if-ma15-is-scrapped-20110429-1dzcj.html
Schmoo
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 5:00 PMNBN should be selling themselves to SPs, not the public as they are wholesale-only.
The SPs should be convincing every user why they should be getting onboard NBN instead of DSL/Cable/Dialup/Pigeons.
Goddy
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 12:28 AMYou really see Telstra encouraging people to get involved with the NBN? They’ve already made it clear that the last thing they want to lose is their stranglehold on the broadband infrastructure.
This initiative will change our country for the better. It’s time to stop listening to the stupid old fogs who can’t tell the difference between Broadband and indicating before changing lanes and start listening to the people who will be leading this country in the future.
Christian
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 5:20 PMBut don’t only 7 people actually use, as in have signed up for the NBN in Armidale??????
sorry but fail…..EPIC fail
One guy has the NBN to play WoW as well!!!! haha
Get on with it!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 8:14 PM700 down, ten million to go. Get on with it.
henry
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 1:34 AMdoes it annoy anyone else that a company selling a high-speed network and all its limitless potentials doesn’t upload their promo videos in HD?
Darryl Hetherington
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 9:16 AMIt seems to be a myth perpetuated by the media as well as Gillard & co the ‘ARMIDALE has the national broadband available” in fact it is not even covering half of the town – Favouring the University and Western part of town only -
Rob
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 10:51 AMThere are some mightily absurd replies in this thread. How come, when someone is against the NBN, people assume we want to live in the dark ages, or something? That’s the kind of nonsense Gillard trots out on a regular basis. You’ll actually find, folks, that we like fast broadband, too. We just think the cost of the NBN, and it’s approach, is absurd. Stop confusing the two things. Also, since when is something a troll post, simply because you disagree with it? Grow up. Play the ball, not the man.
bri_cheese
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 12:52 PMAgree Rob – the end does not justify the means for the NBN. Sorry to everyone here that loves to hate on Turnbull and Telstra.