Channel one Sunday Telecom Story

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Bung

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#64651 22-Mar-2007 11:22

First they have to get elected so wild promises help.

TinyTim

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#64654 22-Mar-2007 11:29

Jama: and while we bicker about who is responsible to pay for world class internet with Labour saying 'it is not us' our enlightened friends across the Tasman Just get on with it

It is a pity that we have such a lame government

There is a lot of discussion going on at the moment about the sense of having competition and replication of bottleneck infrastructure like the access network. A lot of people are saying it makes sense to have the access network under government control or even owned by government - I think there was a column about nationalising Telecom's access network in Monday's DomPost (though I didn't read it).

Towards this ends there are a number of local councils discussingbuilding their own infrastructure (not just CBD) - e.g. see http://www.wellington.govt.nz/news/display-item.php?id=2853.

Jama

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#64656 22-Mar-2007 11:30

That is true but good to see a political party that understands the concept of 'nation' building even if they are lefties. I couldn't see the NZ Greenie Earth Mothers supporting such a concept or our current government being able to afford such an undertaking when all the wedge goes on the public service, interest free student loans and welfare for families.

The only hope for something similar in NZ would be National.

grant_k

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#64660 22-Mar-2007 11:50

Jama: The only hope for something similar in NZ would be National.

While I most sincerely hope that National get elected next time (for MANY reasons), I don't think there is any possibility of them stepping up to the plate and making an investment in Telecommunications Infrastructure.

That's a great pity because I also believe the Australian Labor Party are on the right track with their thinking.

You have to remember that the National Party essentially believe in the "Free Market" and letting market forces decide the outcome. Remember Mr. Maurice Sit-on-my-hands-and-do-nothing Williamson? That's what got us into this mess with under-investment in the first place.

However, the rules have now changed and I think it makes more sense than ever for our core Telecommunications Infrastructure to be Government-owned, in the same way that Roads and now the Rail Tracks are. By all means let other network operators set up competing networks where they see a possible opening in the market. But the core network should be publicly owned with even-handed non-exclusive access provided to variety of service providers such as ISPs, Phone companies, VoIP operators etc.

Nightwyrm

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#64661 22-Mar-2007 11:57

TinyTim: Towards this ends there are a number of local councils discussing building their own infrastructure (not just CBD) - e.g. see http://www.wellington.govt.nz/news/display-item.php?id=2853.

Hurray for WCC finally getting off their chuffs! This is all well and good but still doesn't help some of the more problematic areas like rural communities, especially those ones that are already paying a heinous amount for rates. Instead of increasing everyone's rates, how much of the govt's much-touted operating surplus could go into the network infrastructure?

I like the idea that Juha had about having a Q&A session with the Vodafone dude. Why couldn't something similar happen with David Cunliffe? The GZ community represents a significant chunk of industry people, users, and so forth. If he's willing to front up to TUANZ, surely he'd do the same here.

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Jama

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#64664 22-Mar-2007 12:03

What? You really support what the WCC are doing? I am a rate payer and I do not support it. WCC have been here before with CityLink.

...oh well if not National maybe ACT will build a nationwide network - Go Rodney! Dancing with Stars Youtube videos for everyone!

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TinyTim

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#64665 22-Mar-2007 12:04

Grant17You have to remember that the National Party essentially believe in the "Free Market" and letting market forces decide the outcome. Remember Mr. Maurice Sit-on-my-hands-and-do-nothing Williamson? That's what got us into this mess with under-investment in the first place.

I don't think he's changed they way he works either - if/when he's in next time it'll be more of the same.

lugh:Hurray for WCC finally getting off their chuffs! This is all well and good but still doesn't help some of the more problematic areas like rural communities, especially those ones that are already paying a heinous amount for rates. Instead of increasing everyone's rates, how much of the govt's much-toutedoperating surplus could go into the network infrastructure?

Yes, rural would definitely be a central government thing - local councils couldn't afford it or get the CBA to work.

Nightwyrm

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#64671 22-Mar-2007 12:17

Jama: What? You really support what the WCC are doing?

At this point, I'm not too far from selling my soul. Oh wait, I signed up with Xtra so I already have

. Seriously, if it takes a combo of local and central govt to achieve this, so much the better as long as it gets done.

Out of interest, even if we can upgrade the national network, do we have enough capacity on the overseas pipelines to cope?

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Jama

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#64672 22-Mar-2007 12:25

I suppose there is no point in laying cable if you have no where to terminate it. I propose that the government also lays 40,000km of undersea cable or that they repatriate the Southern Cross for 'make benefit glorious nation of New Zealand'.

I already sell my soul every quarter - it is called rates.

JonC

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#64675 22-Mar-2007 12:36

Jama: and while we bicker about who is responsible to pay for world class internet with Labour saying 'it is not us' our enlightened friends across the Tasman Just get on with it

It is a pity that we have such a lame government

I don't get it. You support the Australian Labor party's plans to build a network, but disapprove of the WCC's plans to do something similar for Wellington???

Also, they're not "Just getting on with it" - they're the opposition and making up policy. They have to win the election and deliver on their promise before anything starts. See the Sydney Morning Herald for more details here.

Jama

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#64677 22-Mar-2007 12:49

I disapprove of the WCC plans because there is already good fibre around the city, because WCC have been here before with Citylink, because I think the trolley buses are rubbish so they should be dumped along with the overhead lines, because who is the WCC going to actually sell the access to, because it is my money they are spending and they should upgrade the gutters and strom water drains in my street!

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JonC

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#64680 22-Mar-2007 12:59

Jama: I disapprove of the WCC plans because there is already good fibre around the city, because WCC have been here before with Citylink, because I think the trolley buses are rubbish so they should be dumped along with the overhead lines, because who is the WCC going to actually sell the access to, because it is my money they are spending and they should upgrade the gutters and strom water drains in my street!

Are you talking about the fibre that Telecom laid that's lying unlit? Sure TCL have fibre, but they're the only game in town. They will only invest and improve services if there's competition and Telecom have decided for whatever reason that they're not going to compete with cable.

Also, I don't understand why you think CityLink was such a bad idea. The initial investment by the council has led to excellent infrastructure in the Wellington CBD. Just the sort of thing the council should be doing.

And if you think your rates bill is bad - be glad you don't live in the Hutt...

TinyTim

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#64682 22-Mar-2007 13:01

Jama: I disapprove of the WCC plans because there is already good fibre around the city, because WCC have been here before with Citylink, because I think the trolley buses are rubbish so they should be dumped along with the overhead lines, because who is the WCC going to actually sell the access to, because it is my money they are spending and they should upgrade the gutters and strom water drains in my street!

I'm not personally a fan of Kerry Prendergast, but from the media release you can see the broadband isn't for the CBD where there is already fibre:

Mayor Kerry Prendergast says the objective is to expand access to affordable, faster broadband for Wellington city residents. "Outside of the Wellington CBD there is limited access to high-speed, cheap broadband. This is extremely frustrating for many businesses and residential customers, many of whom work from home and are trying to compete in a global market.

If this broadband can attract more valuable businesses and consumers to Wellington, then that's more rates for the council with which to build new gutters and drains (and footpaths aka car parks) - and that must be good.

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