NBN Rollout Scrapped

[sptrawler]

This is a bit damning of the NBN roll out.
It would appear that of the 8000 homes in these towns only 50% are connected. It also sounds like, these are one of the early roll out areas. Sounds like an utter shambles, not to mention the wasted money.

http://www.theage.com.au/it-pro/gov...siness-in-broadband-limbo-20140204-hvb58.html

An extract:
At a senate committee hearing on the National Broadband Network (NBN) in Hobart on Tuesday, Digital Tasmania (DigiTas) spokesperson John Dalton said that plans to deactivate six towns’ copper services within 16 weeks would digitally isolate 4000 homes, or approximately 50 per cent of premises, which still don’t have access to fibre.

Tasmania was the first state to connect to the NBN in 2010.

Advertisement ‘‘Across those six towns, approximately 50 per cent of premises don’t currently have an active NBN connection – that's approximately 4000 premises that only have 16 weeks in order to connect before the cut off date," Dalton said.

He said the number could be higher as in some cases, such as that of St Helens, only 30 per cent of premises had an active NBN connection.

About half of the homes and businesses in those were connected to the NBN over the past two years, but for the remainder the rate of connections could be further delayed by additional factors, including landlord co-operation, heritage building issues, and even contractors missing appointments

 

[NBNMyths]

This is a bit damning of the NBN roll out.
It would appear that of the 8000 homes in these towns only 50% are connected. It also sounds like, these are one of the early roll out areas. Sounds like an utter shambles, not to mention the wasted money.

http://www.theage.com.au/it-pro/gov...siness-in-broadband-limbo-20140204-hvb58.html

An extract:
At a senate committee hearing on the National Broadband Network (NBN) in Hobart on Tuesday, Digital Tasmania (DigiTas) spokesperson John Dalton said that plans to deactivate six towns’ copper services within 16 weeks would digitally isolate 4000 homes, or approximately 50 per cent of premises, which still don’t have access to fibre.

Tasmania was the first state to connect to the NBN in 2010.

Advertisement ‘‘Across those six towns, approximately 50 per cent of premises don’t currently have an active NBN connection – that's approximately 4000 premises that only have 16 weeks in order to connect before the cut off date," Dalton said.

He said the number could be higher as in some cases, such as that of St Helens, only 30 per cent of premises had an active NBN connection.

About half of the homes and businesses in those were connected to the NBN over the past two years, but for the remainder the rate of connections could be further delayed by additional factors, including landlord co-operation, heritage building issues, and even contractors missing appointments

The three Tassie trial sites have always been below the mainland sites for connection rates. I remember reading that before the NBN, only ~45% of premises in those towns even had an ADSL connection.

Even at 50% after 3 years though, the take-up is far ahead of a typical technology adoption curve. No matter how good something is, no matter how much we take it for granted today, the take-up always follows the same basic curve.

The take-up of ADSL was only 3% after 18 months in Australia. It had only reached 46% by March 2007, 5 years after the rollout was completed.

Would you describe (then majority Govt-owned Telstra's) rollout of ADSL as "wasted money", given that it clearly had such a pathetic take-up rate compared to even the slowest NBN areas?

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

This is a bit damning of the NBN roll out.
It would appear that of the 8000 homes in these towns only 50% are connected. It also sounds like, these are one of the early roll out areas. Sounds like an utter shambles, not to mention the wasted money.

http://www.theage.com.au/it-pro/gov...siness-in-broadband-limbo-20140204-hvb58.html

An extract:
At a senate committee hearing on the National Broadband Network (NBN) in Hobart on Tuesday, Digital Tasmania (DigiTas) spokesperson John Dalton said that plans to deactivate six towns’ copper services within 16 weeks would digitally isolate 4000 homes, or approximately 50 per cent of premises, which still don’t have access to fibre.

Tasmania was the first state to connect to the NBN in 2010.

Advertisement ‘‘Across those six towns, approximately 50 per cent of premises don’t currently have an active NBN connection – that's approximately 4000 premises that only have 16 weeks in order to connect before the cut off date," Dalton said.

He said the number could be higher as in some cases, such as that of St Helens, only 30 per cent of premises had an active NBN connection.

About half of the homes and businesses in those were connected to the NBN over the past two years, but for the remainder the rate of connections could be further delayed by additional factors, including landlord co-operation, heritage building issues, and even contractors missing appointments

The NBN rollout in Aitkenvale is a complete shambles.

From the Townsville Bulletin.

MORE than a thousand Townsville homes face being cut off from their phone, internet and even medical and security systems because they have not registered for the compulsory switch to the National Broadband Network in just two months.

The National Broadband Network Company said just over 50 per cent, or about 1400 households in the 2800-home zone set for the next rollout, are yet to put in the groundwork for the switch and will be left in the dark if they don't.

Complete disregard for vulnerable members of our community from a top-down inspired and run, ALP shambles.

gg

 

[NBNMyths]

The NBN rollout in Aitkenvale is a complete shambles.

From the Townsville Bulletin.

Complete disregard for vulnerable members of our community from a top-down inspired and run, ALP shambles.

gg

Residents had over 18 months notice that they must migrate to the NBN. Switching is free, and monthly costs are lower than they pay now.

Their ISPs can do everything for them at no cost. All residents need to do is reply to a letter which was sent to them, or give authorisation over the phone.

What more should they do?

 

[overhang]

Residents had over 18 months notice that they must migrate to the NBN. Switching is free, and monthly costs are lower than they pay now.

Their ISPs can do everything for them at no cost. All residents need to do is reply to a letter which was sent to them, or give authorisation over the phone.

What more should they do?

I thought after the Tasmania test they were looking to make it so that the NBN was actually opt out rather than opt in so that incompetent sods such as these wouldn't be left without a service unless they actually requested not to receive it. This was some years ago now.

 

[boofhead]

At the time there was a lot of political mumbo jumo which probably confused a lot of the people. Also the scare of them needing to spend thousands to prepare their house to make use of it which was also incorrect for most people.

 

[Knobby22]

They are from Townsville. Some probably refused on principle and half of them wouldn't know what the internet was anyway.

Instead of providing the service cheaper they should have given them a free counter tea at the local pub if they join and then they would have had a lot more success.

 

[sptrawler]

They are from Townsville. Some probably refused on principle and half of them wouldn't know what the internet was anyway.

Instead of providing the service cheaper they should have given them a free counter tea at the local pub if they join and then they would have had a lot more success.

It is still a dumb rollout model, that will be broke before it produces results.
Meanwhile high volume business data users, sit twiddling their thumbs, while they wait for their connection. If ever.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

They are from Townsville. Some probably refused on principle and half of them wouldn't know what the internet was anyway.

Instead of providing the service cheaper they should have given them a free counter tea at the local pub if they join and then they would have had a lot more success.

Your points, though probably said in jest have a core truth.

Any business person would have addressed this, encouraging and educating the vulnerable, rather than running "Information Days" for Townsville Labor Royalty in Council Libraries.

But the NBN as I have repeatedly said was not rolled out as a business. It was a political charade, executed by nincompooks, who I wouldn't send down to the local store to buy me a pack of Marlboro, lest they be conned.

Rudd and Conroy have much to answer for.

gg

 

[NBNMyths]

Your points, though probably said in jest have a core truth.

Any business person would have addressed this, encouraging and educating the vulnerable, rather than running "Information Days" for Townsville Labor Royalty in Council Libraries.

But the NBN as I have repeatedly said was not rolled out as a business. It was a political charade, executed by nincompooks, who I wouldn't send down to the local store to buy me a pack of Marlboro, lest they be conned.

Rudd and Conroy have much to answer for.

gg

1. NBN were running TV, radio, internet and print advertisements, which Coalition supporters decried as a waste of money.

2. NBN Co had a mobile semitrailer, which went to every site to promote and explain the NBN, which coalition supporters decried as a waste of money.

3. NBN Co initiated a bonus scheme, to encourage people to connect within 6 months, which coalition supporters decried as a waste of money.

4. The CEO of NBN co was a successful COO of the hugely successful global telco supplier, Alcatel (later Alcatel-Lucent), renowned and awarded throughout his career for his competence.

5. The take-up of the NBN is far ahead of anything similar, anywhere in the World.

…..

The Coalition have been running the NBN for 4 months now. What steps have they taken to "educate the vulnerable" about the need to be connected?

It's a rhetorical question, because I'll answer it: They have taken no steps, and in fact cancelled all advertising and promotion of the NBN, and even removed many of the online instructional videos about how to connect.

 

[Smurf1976]

My mother (who is over 70) recently connected to the NBN and had no real hassles.

It was pretty straightforward, although it did involve two visits - one to physically install the cable and a second one to get it working. Location is suburban Hobart.

That said, she sees no real benefit in it as such since ADSL was perfectly adequate for her usage. As with many people, especially the older generations, her internet usage is pretty much limited to emails, news websites and other things which don't need a huge amount of data. That plus normal phone calls. So it's been installed but there's no real benefit in a practical sense in her case.

The only issue that I've come across is a couple of people being a bit confused and concerned about the backup battery. Suffice to say that they read the information and end up a bit concerned about the lead acid battery, thinking that it might be dangerous since acid is involved. So I do think that NBN Co should be providing some reassurance on this point - SLA batteries have been around for decades and are a reasonably safe, proven technology. But not everyone knows that, and if you say "acid" then that does tend to get people worried if they know nothing about it.

Dealing with the public 101 - always explain things in layman's terms and be sure to address anything they might perceive to be a danger. Don't assume any prior knowledge whatsoever. Only after that should you provide a more technical explanation for those who want it.

 

[sptrawler]

IMO, too many people have made the NBN a 'life defining quest".

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

IMO, too many people have made the NBN a 'life defining quest".

It's known as the "Holy Grail"

And many have sought it.



gg

 

[drsmith]

Rollout update for the week to Feb 02

7,113 brownfields passed in the past week.

A total of 7,990 additional lots/premises were passed/covered by the network during the week, of which 7,113 were in Brownfield and 479 were in Greenfield areas. Fixed wireless coverage increased by 398 premises During the week an additional 2,228 premises had services activated on the network, including 1,920 on fixed line services and 308 using satellite and fixed wireless technologies.

Total brownfields passed is now 295,349. The Strategic Review estimates 357,000 brownfields will be passed by June 30 2014. A total of 61,651 brownfields now need to be passed over the next 21 weeks at an average of 2936per week to reach the above target.

http://www.nbnco.com.au/about-us/weekly-progress-report.html

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Many elderly in Aitkenvale and Mundingburra, suburbs of Townsville containing many elderly and War Widows are distraught at the threat from the NBN to cut off their landline.

This il-advised ALP thought bubble is having a devastating effect on the well-being of the elderly.

From the Townsville Bulletin.

NBN Co clearly needs to lift its game.

The prospect of more than 1000 households, including many elderly, having their phone and internet services cut off or downgraded because they have yet to make the switch to the National Broadband Network is unsatisfactory.

Residents in Aitkenvale and Mundingburra have just four months to register for the NBN before existing services are lost.

Those who fail to make the switch will still be able to receive calls but be prevented from dialling out.

And what does NBN have to say about it apart from urging residents to "get their order in" ahead of May 2014? Nothing.

NBN has an obligation to ensure the community is properly informed. If this requires doorknocking and community meetings, so be it.

C'mon NBN, pick up your act.

gg

 

[sptrawler]

Well I thought I'd better do the right thing and find out how much it will cost to connect to the NBN, the box has been on the wall for four months.
Well what a joke it isn't available.
The box is on the wall, the cabinet is 100mtrs down the road.

However, I was told it could be upto two years before it's available, check you have a dial tone and use the copper.
So the capital expenditure has gone into the deployment of the infrastructure, but it may not be up and running for two years.
I said there must be people connected, the NBN have been in the street for 12 months, all they could say was "leave your number" we'll get back to you.lol
It is an absolute fiasco, like everything else Labor implemented.IMO

 

[drsmith]

Rollout update for the week to Feb 09

5,311 brownfields passed in the past week.

Total brownfields passed is now 300,660. The Strategic Review estimates 357,000 brownfields will be passed by June 30 2014. A total of 56,340 brownfields now need to be passed over the next 20 weeks at an average of 2817per week to reach the above target.

http://www.nbnco.com.au/about-us/weekly-progress-report.html

Meanwhile in Tasmania, a back-door in the in the rollout contracts.

Ziggy Zwitkowski says the contracts to connect 200,000 homes do not specify the sort of technology which must be used.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-13/tasmanian-homes-may-miss-out-on-nbn-fibre-rollout/5256794

The Australian,

At last year’s federal election, the Coalition government promised to honour all “existing contracts” for the rollout, which under Labor was based on fibre-optic cable to the premise.

This had led to assumptions that areas where the rollout was already contracted and underway would receive fibre to the premise.

However, late yesterday NBN Co confirmed to The Australian all of its contracts with companies performing the rollout were sufficiently flexible to allow for changes of delivery technology, including switching to copper.

“All major construction contracts contain sufficient flexibility to take into account changes in things such as price, volumes and approach,” said NBN Co media manager Andrew Sholl. “We’d be rightly criticised if there wasn’t that flexibility in NBN contracts. It’s especially important in a project as complex as the NBN, a telecommunications rollout the magnitude of which has never before been attempted.” This “adaptability” would allow NBN Co to deliver high-speed broadband to more people faster and “at less cost to the taxpayer”.

So much for that poison pill.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/bus...exible-on-fibre/story-e6frgaif-1226826537411#

 

[IFocus]

Well I thought I'd better do the right thing and find out how much it will cost to connect to the NBN, the box has been on the wall for four months.
Well what a joke it isn't available.
The box is on the wall, the cabinet is 100mtrs down the road.

However, I was told it could be upto two years before it's available, check you have a dial tone and use the copper.
So the capital expenditure has gone into the deployment of the infrastructure, but it may not be up and running for two years.
I said there must be people connected, the NBN have been in the street for 12 months, all they could say was "leave your number" we'll get back to you.lol
It is an absolute fiasco, like everything else Labor implemented.IMO

Decisions made today are a result of coalition policy just suck it up and get used to it there will be less services right across the board so the conservative government can throw money their mates and marginal seats.

 

[drsmith]

Someone pleeease wring its neck.

:topic

 

[DB008]

Google promises 10Gps fiber network to blast 4K into living rooms

Google Fiber is the fastest broadband internet provider in the US, but according to the Chocolate Factory's CFO Patrick Pichette, its 1Gbps connection speeds are going to increase ten-fold.

Pichette told the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet conference that the firm is actively developing the equipment to pump 10Gbps of data into homes and offices on its network and will deploy it faster than people expect.

"That's where the world is going. It's going to happen," Pichette said, USA Today reports. Originally, the plan had been to roll this out in a decade but "why wouldn't we make it available in three years? That's what we're working on. There's no need to wait," he added.

Getting faster broadband into people's homes and businesses was vital to Google's own business, Pichette said. The more people used the internet, the better it is for Google, and he opined that cloud services would become much more popular if bandwidth lag were eliminated.

While Google Fiber retains its speed advantage, the number of homes it actually reaches is tiny. The company set up a test network in Palo Alto in 2011 before rolling out its first commercial installation in Kansas City, Missouri, after strong public demand.

Next on the list for deployment is Austin, the cultural capital of Texas, and Google also spent one dollar buying up the municipal network of Provo, Utah, and will invest $18m in finding out where the network cables are and getting them up to speed.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/02/14/google_will_upgrade_fiber_network_to_give_10gbps_home_broadband/