Mitchell Bingeman at the Australian is reporting that while NBN Co is making the offer, construction companies believe the cost of connecting these homes will be up to 10 times more than connecting homes within the fibre area.
While most remote homes probably won’t be able to justify the expense of a fibre connection, it’s still good to hear that they are at least being offered the opportunity.
Gwyntaglaw
Monday, June 20, 2011 at 12:03 PMThe estimates from construction companies that the cost is “up to 10 times more” is unhelpful – in most cases where the fibre extension is just outside the rollout zone, the cost is unlikely to be that much greater. Though I await word on what these estimates are likely to be in practice.
In any event, which is better: that people outside the 93% rollout zone (1) have a chance to get fibre, at cost recovery rates, or (2) have no chance at all?
Option (1) is of course the more practical option, with greater choice – but it politically more charged, because it does have the effect of rubbing people’s noses in the fact that they may have to pay extra to get what others get for free. Option (2) would, paradoxically, be politically easier, because people would just have to lump it, and for most of them they would just shrug their shoulders and get over it. But at least there wouldn’t be anything looking like a bill to pay.
matt
Monday, June 20, 2011 at 1:00 PMIn conclusion: Politics are stupid.
Antonia Powers
Monday, June 20, 2011 at 12:28 PMThe advantages of living in an urban setting (a city, or a large town) should include easier access to services. The disadvantages are many and include more pollution, more crime, more traffic jams, more noise, no natural environment, more over crowding…
Penmonicus
Monday, June 20, 2011 at 4:39 PMPrecisely.
Brendan
Monday, June 20, 2011 at 1:21 PMJust a political stunt.
All basic services should be at either no or the same cost to all Australians. If it’s as important to our future as the Labor Party and NBN Co say then no matter how much it costs to roll out it should be the same service, or as close as possible) and same charge to ALL Australians. We put Schools, Hospitals, Electricity and Telephone for every household to have access to at the same charge why is this different.
I live 100 meters from the Willunga inclusion range and yet our exchange doest even have ADSL yet!
Antonia Powers
Monday, June 20, 2011 at 8:50 PMI think its a disingenuous to equate someone living in, say, central Melbourne with Leonora. A city is a city because of the range and volume of services it can provide its inhabitants.
Luke
Monday, June 20, 2011 at 1:24 PMWhilst I agree it is not practical to roll out fibre everywhere, I do sympathise with people who complain that they pay the exact same tax rates as everyone else yet are going to get a significantly worse system. Even if the speeds are good with wireless (which in practice is rare), the ping times is what ruins the experience.
Also, I’d be interested to see how this works in practice, could a group of nearby individuals/businesses join together and get it at a group price? Will other people be able to connect into the system if someone else has paid for it? Could potentially create a classic free-rider problem.
Simon
Monday, June 20, 2011 at 3:33 PMGiven that the NBN costs almost $3,500 per taxpayer, shouldn’t everyone get the same service, or at least a subsidy to go towards offsetting the cost?
Penmonicus
Monday, June 20, 2011 at 4:41 PM$3500? That’s all, really? Jeez, what the hell are people complaining about, then?
Trent
Monday, June 20, 2011 at 11:12 PMIf ppl are choosing to live out in the bush they gain alot, then went expensive fibre rolled out to there house?
If anything this provides even more incentive to live out in the bush because i know that i won’t be near a town but i’ll be able to pay to get a fibre connection. Awesome news NBN co.
David Shears
Friday, June 24, 2011 at 1:52 AMRegional areas do not suffer the same problem with wireless broadband that city’s do. Less population density means more available bandwidth for end users. 12/1Mbps for regional users is easily upgradable (even without changing hardware) on these 3.9G networks. That being said, I dont think the type of network has even been decided upon yet