This whole debate is fast becoming redundant now, as Telecom is starting to roll out direct-to-the-customer internet access products.
Surely Telecom have been doing this since about 1994?
Yes, however it is going to continue. The internet industry in NZ is going to keep on contracting to a few players, all of whom: 1. Own their own delivery network -or- 2. Can offer something truely unique to the marketplace I deal with a lot of businesses and I am constantly hearing the same complaints about the same ISP companies. Also, NZ is still over run with small 'virtual' ISPs who will not be able to stay in business because they are too small and have nothing different to offer, as they are limited by their hosts offering, and if anything are a liability to a business client if they go awol as many have leaving the client high and dry for a short while. My two cents worth for a mid size ISP - to stay in business, go and do an Iconz or something - they found themselves a fabulous little island with people who have money and crap internet access and they went and built a delivery network, and saw a further opportunity to extend it to a couple of east Auckland no-DSL areas. That is clever business. That is also astute from a technical perspective as well. I have not however heard of one person who has a complaint about the ADSL service. Our discussion here has some interesting technical merits (Some of which I agree with) but has very little meaning in the marketplace. Michael Hallager networkStuff ltd www.networkstuff.co.nz | p.09.839.1000 | m.029.638.7883