<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META NAME="Generator" CONTENT="MS Exchange Server version 6.5.7638.1">
<TITLE>RE: [AusNOG] OT: Regulator rings the changes for telcos, isps - WARNING, POTENTIAL FLAMEBAIT</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<!-- Converted from text/plain format -->
<P><FONT SIZE=2>I agree entirely, and thank you for sharing your opinion publicly. My personal opinion is that the OPEL project was a pragmatic way to improve rural telecoms with minimal investment (comparatively) without interfering with the complex and fragile telecommunications industry.<BR>
<BR>
Had it not been scrapped by the government, the OPEL project would be delivering tangible benefits to consumers TODAY. That boat has sailed and what a shame. OPEL on a national scale would be the best of both worlds. Layer 2/Layer 3: that's the job of the VAR. Want to build a regional telehouse for DR? Easy. There's still a place for small, regional ISPs (which appeals to the silo mentalities in regional areas - no pun intended) as well as larger service providers with their economy of scale. Everyone goes home happy.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
-----Original Message-----<BR>
From: ausnog-bounces@lists.ausnog.net on behalf of Paul Brooks<BR>
Sent: Thu 4/22/2010 3:51 PM<BR>
To: ausnog@lists.ausnog.net<BR>
Subject: Re: [AusNOG] OT: Regulator rings the changes for telcos, isps - WARNING, POTENTIAL FLAMEBAIT<BR>
<BR>
On 22/04/2010 10:11 AM, Curtis Bayne wrote:<BR>
><BR>
> The regional back-haul project is costing a fraction of the NBN and<BR>
> will provide tangible benefits to consumers (with increased speeds and<BR>
> reduced cost) far before a consumer is connected to the NBN network.<BR>
> It enables retail ISPs to install competitive infrastructure in areas<BR>
> which have previously been serviced only by the monopoly provider.<BR>
> This is a good thing.<BR>
><BR>
.....<BR>
><BR>
> Perhaps if we spent a few billion dollars building a national,<BR>
> regional back haul network capable of servicing major town/transit<BR>
> routes, we would have a national, regulated carriage duopoly: this<BR>
> would encourage independent providers to begin building their own<BR>
> fibre routes in areas where they have previously been unable to<BR>
> justify expenditure due to a lack of return - especially in places<BR>
> like Maroochydore, Darwin etc. Customers that are outside of these<BR>
> regional centers will end up serviced by independent wireless ISPs -<BR>
> these ISPs now have access to competitive carriage some ~200KM away,<BR>
> which is only a few microwave hops away. Capitalism again: if there's<BR>
> money in it, someone will do it.<BR>
><BR>
> As far as I can see, if we pursue this avenue, we will end up with the<BR>
> following outcomes:<BR>
><BR>
> 1. An easily justifiable return on investment for "BackhaulCo" (our<BR>
> tax dollars do not go to waste!)<BR>
> 2. Delivery of high-speed services to regional areas (fulfilling the<BR>
> goals of NBNCo).<BR>
> 3. Does not sever the investment that current providers have put in<BR>
> their own infrastructure (this will make many providers happy)<BR>
> 4. Will most likely (in time) deliver a FTTP network when a commercial<BR>
> provider deems they are able to amortize their investment (or we'll<BR>
> end up stuck with HFC - either way, we get our 100Mbps to the home)<BR>
> 5. Encourages smaller ISPs in regional areas, creating jobs and<BR>
> bolstering the local economy (and keeps me in business)<BR>
> 6. Only marginally pisses Telstra off (could be considered a<BR>
> disadvantage!)<BR>
> 7. Encourages mobile carriers like Voda/Optus to deploy 3G<BR>
> infastructure in rural areas (more healthy competition in these areas<BR>
> and a kick in the pants for the NextG monopoly).<BR>
> 8. Stops Curtis from making page-long rants on a public mailing list<BR>
> (good for AusNOG in general).<BR>
> </opinion><BR>
><BR>
<BR>
Curtis - you just described the Opel project, and the Broadband Connect<BR>
tendering process in late 2006 that lead the selection of Opel to build it.<BR>
To whit: build a regional backhaul network to bring metro-comparable<BR>
backhaul capacity and pricing to regional areas, and then local ISPs<BR>
will build the local loop and access networks using whatever<BR>
technologies they feel works best in the local community.<BR>
<BR>
It seemed like a good idea to the previous federal government.<BR>
To the current government that appears to have been sufficient to kill<BR>
it, and do something different - and if the previous guys thought<BR>
backhaul network was good, then the 'different thing' is access network.<BR>
<BR>
P.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
--<BR>
Paul Brooks | Mob +61 414 366 605<BR>
Layer 10 Advisory | Ph +61 2 9402 7355<BR>
-------------------------------------------------------<BR>
Layer 10 - telecommunications strategy& network design<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
</FONT>
</P>
</BODY>
</HTML>