With every passing week, the NBN becomes more of a permanent reality for Australians. This week: porn expected to drive NBN uptake (who’d have guessed?), iiNet chief calls for end to politicised debate, and the consumer watchdog warns ISPs against overstating NBN speed claims.
• Cheers to Jennifer Wilson, director of Australian digital production outfit, The Project Factory, for finally saying what we’ve all been thinking. Speaking at an Australian Computer Society event, she explained that “If we cannot get porn on the NBN than we will have trouble getting consumer acceptance and uptake.” [CIO]
• Meanwhile, the ACCC is concerned that by being connected to the NBN in a similar fashion, ISPs may get sneaky on speeds. The consumer watchdog will crack down on providers breaking its key principle: “Headline claims must represent attainable speeds”. Optus take note. [Gizmodo]
• NBN Co came out and said it won’t be filtering internet services delivered over the NBN. That will continue to sit with (and for the moment, be the choice of) the ISPs. [Gizmodo]
• In the face of the NBN, the ISP landscape looks to be consolidating, too. Eftel and ClubTelco are merging, and the new marriage will help it better square off against the likes of Primus and Internode. [iTNews]
• iiNet chief executive, Michael Malone, was a voice of sanity late in the week: calling for those commenting on the NBN to judge ideas on their “technical merit”, instead of allowing politics to steer the debate. Hear hear. [iTWire]
• NBN Co revealed that, of the 18,000 workers it plans to hire or contract for the roll-out of the NBN, around 9,000 will be the likes of earthmovers and traffic controllers used in the full-scale rollout between 2014 and 2018. [CRN]
• Finally, Vint Cerf, one of the founders of the internet has already said he’s envious of the NBN. And this week he discussed the NBN further: “This could be a dangerous thing. If it turns out that it’s all a cock-up of some sort, if it costs more than was expected and it doesn’t get done, then nobody is going to want to talk about it. I understand that. But I am increasingly confident that you’re going to pull this off successfully. I sincerely hope you do.” Full interview at: [kimmicblog]