FYI -------- Original Message -------- Subject: RE: Coonan: broadband speed satisfactory!!! Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 17:08:34 +1000 From: Coonan, Helen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Ken Harvey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Dear Dr Harvey, Thank you for your email in relation to broadband. I completely understand how important reliable and efficient broadband is to Australia. It can break-down the barriers created by Australia’s vast land mass, revitalise communities and improve access to services and information. That is why last year the Government announced the most significant telecommunications funding package in Australia’s history including $1.1 billion in Connect Australia funding to enhance the roll-out of broadband infrastructure and $2 billion in the Communications Fund to ensure Australians enjoy new technologies in the future. In addition, the Government has commenced the $50 million Metropolitan Broadband Connect program which is filling any remaining blackspots in metropolitan areas. I am disappointed that Telstra has pulled out of talks with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission about the access prices for competitors to access the fibre-to-the-node network which Telstra had proposed to roll out in the five major capital cities by 2009. Telstra had been saying publicly that there were very few issues left to be resolved, which makes it puzzling why it would discontinue the talks when they seemed so close to resolution. In relation to my comments on the /7.30 Report/, I was explaining that alternative high speed broadband platforms are available in inner metropolitan areas of many of Australia’s capital cities. In responding to comments that without a fibre network Australia would lag behind other countries in the broadband stakes, I said that people living in metropolitan areas can already access fast broadband speeds of between 12 and 18 megabits per second (mbps) – if they can access ADSL 2+ or cable networks. Obviously not everyone can access these existing fast broadband platforms today but they are being aggressively rolled out by service providers. For example, at least nine service providers already offer ADSL 2+ fast broadband in the capital cities and major regional centres. Telstra is also expected to switch on its high speed ADSL2+ network across the country in the near future. The traditional ADSL broadband service is already available to more than 80 per cent of Australian households and small businesses at speeds of up to 1.5 mbps. In addition, Pay TV cable networks pass around 3.7 million premises in major capital cities and offer data speeds of up to 17 mbps. Meanwhile, wireless broadband services - offering speeds of up to 2 mbps - are available to almost 6.5 million premises. About 835,000 premises with no access to ADSL have access to a wireless service. Telstra’s national third generation wireless network is currently being rolled out to 98 per cent of the population and will offer high speed wireless broadband in 2007. I acknowledge early that different people have differing needs when it comes to broadband speeds. But for most people, a connection of 1.5mbps is currently adequate to deliver them the services and downloads they want. For others, they may want faster connections and these are currently largely available in the metropolitan areas that would have benefited from fibre. Where they are not the Metropolitan Broadband Connect program will assist. Broadband take-up in Australia is also strong. In 2001 Australia only had 120,000 broadband subscribers. We are now approaching our four millionth broadband connection – only five years later. Australia now has the sixth fastest growing broadband market in the OECD (Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development). Competition in conjunction with an effective regulatory regime are the best means of delivering choice and improved broadband services to Australian consumers. The Government’s approach has been consistent and is based on sound economic principles of open competition, technology neutrality and targeted funding. The Government will continue to focus on a competitive, market driven system that will deliver higher speeds and better access to all Australians. HELEN COONAN -----Original Message----- From: Ken Harvey [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, 9 August 2006 8:37 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Coonan: broadband speed satisfactory!!! Dear Senator Coonan, You were reported in today's "The Age" as saying, "Internet users in most Australian capital cities should be happy with the speed of their broadband connection". See: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/coonan-broadband-speed-satisfactory/2006/08/09/1154802921800.html I'm not sure what you base this opinion on! I'm certainly not happy with my iiNet ADSL II plus speed (as I'm more than 3 km from the exchange) although the upload speed is much better than Telstra cable which I abandoned (also because of poor reliability and appalling customer service).... <snip> _______________________________________________ Gpcg_talk mailing list [email protected] http://ozdocit.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gpcg_talk
