Anne Hurley, executive chair, Internet Australia
Internet Australia, the not for profit peak body representing internet users, has drawn attention to the latest ABS report showing the majority of internet users are now opting for the higher speed broadband packages on offer.
This provides further evidence of the need for the government to rethink its NBN strategy.
The ABS report clearly shows the need for fast broadband is here. It also highlights the fact that for many Australians, those on the inferior FTTN version, the NBN will prove to be a big disappointment in years to come, said Ms Hurley.
IA has previously drawn attention to the ‘digital divide’ being created by NBN Co, with nearly half its customers stuck with FTTN, which uses Telstra’s ageing copper wires, and therefore unable to enjoy the faster (gigabit) speeds that will be available to their neighbours.
In the past, when the majority of its customers were still signing up to the slower speed packages, NBN Co used this to argue that fast broadband wasn’t needed. So I hope they will now admit they were wrong .
IA has again called on the Government to instruct NBN Co to abandon FTTN and move to superior fibre technologies capable of keeping pace with the rest of the world.
While repeating its preference for a full fibre network, IA has for more than a year argued in favour of fibre to the driveway (also known as fibre to the distribution point, or FTTdp), which only uses the short length of copper wire from the footpath to the premises. FTTdp will deliver faster speeds than FTTN and is capable of being upgraded to full fibre at a later date for a relatively small cost.
The FTTN network will need to be replaced in 10 to 15 years or sooner.
We’ve seen Australia drop from 30th to around 50th on global internet speed rankings in just a few years. How long do we have to wait before we realise the need to fix our failed NBN?
