At 07:48 p.m. 26/12/2003 +1300, Juha Saarinen wrote:
I have a feeling that it would be more honest for everyone involved if the government came clear and said that it is not interested in NZ developing any sort of Internet connectivity that is not provided by Telecom NZ in one form or the other.
I'm a bit sleepy and may be reading this wrong, and I haven't read the full report, but my understanding is quite the opposite. I understand the Commissioner is saying "don't rely solely on Telecom's infrastructure (its old legacy stuff with no future) focus instead on making the NZ Broadband Internet using newer stuff". Personally I agree with him. NZ has had the *best* deregulated environment for the past 12 years and has largely squandered that advantage. I believe there are plenty of alternatives such as fiber, wireless, cat-5 (a personal favourite) with alternative architectures that are perfectly viable, scalable etc. Accept the fact that Telecom's local loop is based on older cable which doesn't meet many requirements other than a phone and DSL, and is of diminiuishing value for real broadband. Every effort overseas (and remember is all about economic development NOT communications) is where countries are building new networks. In terms of business models look back in time and see how little NZ got power to its smaller towns and cities. They were build by community owned power boards. Its a very effective way of raising the capital as well as providing lots of local employment. They weren't build by NZED/transpower/etc and Telecom won't invest in real broadband in those areas while its share price/value slides to zero. And as for why Telstra would want to build dsl over copper networks today with new plant, well I can only think of Lemmings...... Sorry for the rant, I'm a bit passionate about broadband and how NZ was WASTED the chance it had. Better go mow the lawn and take it out on the grass...... BTW - Happy Christmas everyone. rich