The National Broadband Network

The Australian government is committing $43bn in a public/private partnership to build over eight years a fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband network, i.e. a national optical fibre network, superseding the existing copper (telephony) network.

It should deliver 100Mbps broadband to homes, which is a big improvement over the the current theoretical max. of 24Mbps (ADSL 2+) and average/median of 3 to 4Mbps (according to Speedtest.net and ZDnet). Currently Australia doesn't even rank in the world's top-20 for Internet access speeds.

Listen to the podcast here:

MP3 File

Some history:

• Both parties made this an election promise
• Telstra bid was withdrawn
• No private tenders accepted
• Govt. to go it alone
• Govt. share to be sold off within 5 years of completion

Some criticism:

• political grandstanding: Whitlamesque nation-building exercise
• Would wireless be better?
• Bundled with internet censorship legislation? (This would be a bad thing)
• Too expensive
• No private partners will be interested

As a result ...

It makes many of the technologies we've discussed in previous podcasts (more) possible:

• Cloud Computing
• High definition Internet TV
• Video teleconferencing
• E-health
• Distance education
• A key component if the government is serious about developing a thriving Digital Economy
• Things we haven't even thought of yet: Build it and they will come...

Useful links:

• The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy starting page for the NBN
• Their recent media release
• Wikipedia entry for the NBN
• Rural Australia gets NBN call
• ZDNet Australia asked readers: "What will be the best use for the Federal Government's National Broadband Network?" Some interesting (and funny) comments here
• UK ISP Virgin Media to pilot 200Mbps broadband service