I can supply a high speed reliable wireless connection to any of six local schools, at a speed that exceeds "broadband" at a price far cheaper and a level of service far better, then any government scheme can. Whether I wish to put up with teachers and BOT's left wing stance that I owe it to them... for free (Almost)... is another matter.
I also think that if the telecoms providers and ISPs of NZ can't build and operate a network for schools / police / fire service / whatever that meets their requirements, then the government itself should build such a network.
I say this becasue today we spend billions on stuffing Telecom NZ's and TelstraClear's pockets.....and the profit alone on that service would build a kick-ass national network that would meet the infrastructural aims and goals I have in mind.
We have seen so far in NZ that private network providers - mainly Telecom, but they aren't alone - are likely more expensive in the medium and long term - at the end of the day - than a publicly-funded, cost-recovery network would be.
As Richard naylor has said: Why not just do it yourself?
Is that a question to individuals only? Or could the people of New Zealand hear that quesiton and respond?
I agree that deregulation presented opportunity.....but where is the competition we were supposed to see?
It isn't there....and Telecom NZ remains the most profitable telco in the OECD - pound for inch....and mainly becasue they were gifted - by Richard Prebble - a publicly funded and built infrastructure that no one else today can afford to match.
I'll be quiet now.
-- // Michael Hallager Director || Head geek || Making IT work. URL: http://www.networkstuff.co.nz networkStuff, NZ's leading supplier of high quality used networking equipment. Phone: 09 837-6100 (DDI) 0800 638-788 (Freecall) Fax: 09 837-8100 0800 329-788 (Freecall) Mobile: 027 477-7624 ------------------------------------------------------- -- // Michael Hallager Director || Head geek || Making IT work. URL: http://www.networkstuff.co.nz networkStuff, NZ's leading supplier of high quality used networking equipment. Phone: 09 837-6100 (DDI) 0800 638-788 (Freecall) Fax: 09 837-8100 0800 329-788 (Freecall) Mobile: 027 477-7624