Australia recently plummeted to 62nd in the world ranking for internet speeds. This is despite the increase in the numbers of connections to the NBN. This statistic alone is damning, however, what is worse is that the average speed tax payers can expect from the NBN is no better than the previously deployed technology. Sure there will be a lucky few (approximately 19% of connections) that will enjoy fibre to the home. Unfortunately, the rest will be left with a mix of technologies that will leave people wishing they could revert to their ADSL service.
Who wins on the NBN?
The NBN’s patchwork of technologies means that some taxpayers that helped to fund the network will receive an inferior service to their neighbours, University of Sydney urban infrastructure expert Tooran Alizadeh said; “We are really ending up with a hotchpotch. There are going to be streets and neighbourhoods in very close proximity where one house has the best option – FTTP – and another house has FTTN,” Dr Alizadeh told The New Daily.
“A very large number of properties, larger than the NBN is going to admit, will be connected with old cables (HFC).
“The problem is that many people are going to be worse off not just in comparison to neighbours and friends who are getting a better deal, but worse off than their [existing] ADSL connection”
There are NBN alternatives
Fortunately for those who “lose” the NBN lottery, private enterprise is ready to help. Our Community Broadband are now selling average 40 Mbps residential services across the Sunshine Coast. They have also just launched their premium business service at 100/50 Mbps. That’s an average speed incidentally, not an “UP TO”.
These products will eliminate the inevitable property devaluation from a poor connection and also allow businesses to remain digitally enabled and therefore competitive. Contact OCB to find out how to get connected.
Andy Whitmore, Co-Founder, Our Community Broadband
