John Linton I commented yesterday on how things may change over the coming years, irrespective of any possible change of Federal Government, but shortly after I completed that piece of writing I read this:
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/nbn-most-extreme-broadband-plan-eiu-20111010-1lh7i.html
While any media writing these days, even in a relatively well regarded journal such as the Economist Intelligence Unit, is simply some lesser or better credentialed 'opinion piece' this one has more facts that appear real and less opinions than most - particularly those appearing in Australia over the past four years which have had absolutely no facts and are entirely self serving opinions.
Exetel has no option but to keep considering the 'NBN2' and to actively participate in and continuing to try and understand what the ongoing 'NBN2' adventure means to our company and what immediate and future actions we may need to take to deal with the consequences of this industry breaking government adventurism. The cited article is probably, at least as far as I am aware, the only piece of writing that spells out some 'facts' that allow the scope of what may change to be looked at in a sensible perspective. I read this article shortly after Exetel had attended a 'de-briefing' held by NBNCo on the feedback from a survey they conducted of Exetel, iinet and Internode trial customers (only these three NBNCo customers attended the briefing as the other participating ISPs did not give permission for their trial customers to participate).
Nothing very interesting was shared by NBNCo on the results of their survey - perhaps there was nothing interesting to share. Trial customers overwhelmingly liked the speed and business customers really liked the much faster upload speeds. No-one liked the NTU and many found the need to have the NTU in a particular place annoying. You actually didn't need a survey to establish those two 100% predictable results. I know its very early days, and things will get more organised as time elapses, but it is very much amateur hour over the road in North Sydney at this particular time. Which is a concern for an organisation that is spending tax payer money and borrowed money at a furious rate with only political advantage as the rationale for expenditure. If you read the cited article, it's quite brief, you will see just how much more money Ms Faustus et alia are spending compared to ANY other country in the world and you will see how expensive what any end result will cost compared to any other country in the world. Even those rabidly illogical, and completely pig ignorant, "supporters" of Labor craziness must be having second thoughts by now (assuming they are actually capable of semi-rational thought - which I suppose is questionable).
Irrespective of what anyone writes (and irrespective of whatever are the actual facts) companies like Exetel have to continue to invest in the 'NBN2' because, in the event it does even partially succeed in some form or another it will change the way wire line internet and associated services is provided to residential users over time. This will have to be done for at least another two years (though its peculiar to think the future of the country's rational communications infrastructure depends on one union thug staying clear of criminal prosecution). If the 'NBN2' does continue then the changes already becoming evident in the supply of residential communication services are going to become massive....and they aren't going to benefit any type of end user......and the cost is going to be very high.
I, personally and on behalf of Exetel, have no idea how it will all turn out - I suspect badly - but I see little option but to 'play the game' for at least the coming months.
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