National Broadband Network Research Articles

All change for broadband

At the time of writing, the media is full of speculation about the National Broadband Network (NBN), but there is limited hard information available. This article is an attempt to tease out a better understanding of the current developments in telecommunications in Australia. It is a high-level summary of the elements being considered and the policy issues still to be resolved, from the perspective of one interested observer, and as such it is certain to need correction and clarification as more is revealed.The terminology used in this paper is that given in the Appendix, which provides a short tutorial on the current Telecommunications Environment.

Australian local governments and the early national broadband network roll-out: an online survey

A recent decision by the Australian Federal Government to reassess the scale of the National Broadband Network (NBN) will leave the country with a patchwork of different levels of access to the infrastructure. This intensifies the need to investigate and evaluate the implications of telecommunication at the local level. The paper opens a discussion on the different approaches taken by local government authorities towards the NBN in the early roll-out localities. Building upon the international literature, it analyses the empirical data collected from the Australian local governments involved with the early NBN roll-out using an online survey. The findings reveal an interesting diversity in the approaches taken at the local level, and show how decision-making at higher levels of government can impact local outcomes.

Telecommunications Performance Monitoring and Unlimited Data

The Australian telecommunications industry has been slow to call for or to adopt new practices and the National Broadband Network has exacerbated the problem of technology adoption lag. There are two key issues facing telecommunication consumers today. The cost of optical networking has significantly reduced over the past five years so there is no justification for the network congestion that occurs on Australian telecommunication networks. To remedy this situation the introduction of performance monitoring is fully supported. It is time for the telecommunications industry to adopt new broadband business models that are based on the provision of unlimited data and a maximum of 90 to 95 per cent utilisation on optical network links.

Telecommunications Performance Monitoring and Unlimited Data

The Australian telecommunications industry has been slow to call for or to adopt new practices and the National Broadband Network has exacerbated the problem of technology adoption lag. There are two key issues facing telecommunication consumers today. The cost of optical networking has significantly reduced over the past five years so there is no justification for the network congestion that occurs on Australian telecommunication networks. To remedy this situation the introduction of performance monitoring is fully supported. It is time for the telecommunications industry to adopt new broadband business models that are based on the provision of unlimited data and a maximum of 90 to 95 per cent utilisation on optical network links.

Political economy of telecommunication infrastructure: An investigation of the National Broadband Network early rollout and pork barrel politics in Australia

It has been argued that infrastructure unevenness rigidifies into more lasting structures of socio-economic and political privilege and advantage. This paper focuses on telecommunication infrastructure as the backbone of the fast-growing digital economy, and raises important questions about the early National Broadband Network (NBN) rollout in Australia. The paper asks whether there was any case of pork barrelling in the selection of early release sites that enjoyed a regional competitive advantage against other localities that had to wait several years to receive the infrastructure. The answer to this question then leads to a second question about the degree to which voting in the early NBN release sites has swung following the infrastructure rollout. In order to answer these questions the paper examines the voting patterns in the earlier NBN release sites versus all electorates in the Federal elections in 2007–2013 using the data available via Australian Electoral Commission. Findings show trends of politically targeted funding, followed by vote swing in the very next election.

Counting the Cost: A Critical Evaluation of the Australian National Broadband Network Roll-Out under the Rudd/Gillard Governments

ABSTRACTA nascent literature has examined recent controversial policy initiatives by the Australian Government using insights from the literature on public policy evaluation. Scholars have considered inter alia the Mineral Resources Rent Tax, the Home Insulation Program, the Green Loans Program, the Building the Education Revolution and the macroeconomic stimulus package after the global financial crisis. The present paper adds to this literature by considering the National Broadband Network (NBN). The costs of implementing the NBN are examined and the paper attempts to draw some broader public policy ‘lessons‘ to inform future public policy making both in Australia and elsewhere.

Grand Intentions

It is with the best of intentions that Australia embarked on a program of privatisation that commenced in the 1970s and continues today. Government’s efforts over the past 40 years to divest itself of utilities and enterprises in a shift from a command economy to a broader market economy is to be applauded but only lightly for the implementation of the privatisation program has, at times, been a shambles resulting in failed legislation and regulation, unwanted outcomes, and a lack of competition. It is timely that Emeritus Professor Tevor Barr has authored a novel that was inspired by real events during the privatisation of Australian Government telecommunications assets. The aptly named and newly privatised Telco One has recruited a chief executive officer from New York and the business culture transition begins. Decades after the events described in Professor Barr’s Grand Intentions the Australian telecommunications market remains in a state of constant flux with successive Governments failing to put in place a balanced, fair and open competitive market that would justify the privatisation program. The rationale for the National Broadband Network highlights the quagmire into which the Government of the day was forced to step and it will be another five to ten years before a future Government has the next opportunity to restructure the industry. Let us hope that they get it right this time around.

Grand Intentions

It is with the best of intentions that Australia embarked on a program of privatisation that commenced in the 1970s and continues today. Government’s efforts over the past 40 years to divest itself of utilities and enterprises in a shift from a command economy to a broader market economy is to be applauded but only lightly for the implementation of the privatisation program has, at times, been a shambles resulting in failed legislation and regulation, unwanted outcomes, and a lack of competition. It is timely that Emeritus Professor Tevor Barr has authored a novel that was inspired by real events during the privatisation of Australian Government telecommunications assets. The aptly named and newly privatised Telco One has recruited a chief executive officer from New York and the business culture transition begins. Decades after the events described in Professor Barr’s Grand Intentions the Australian telecommunications market remains in a state of constant flux with successive Governments failing to put in place a balanced, fair and open competitive market that would justify the privatisation program. The rationale for the National Broadband Network highlights the quagmire into which the Government of the day was forced to step and it will be another five to ten years before a future Government has the next opportunity to restructure the industry. Let us hope that they get it right this time around.

National Broadband Network

The National Broadband Network is a focus of the June 2016 issue with four papers providing an insight into the nation’s largest infrastructure project. A historical paper on vibration measurement highlights how times have changed as the telecommunications networks evolve The Government’s review of the Universal Service Obligation has commenced with the Productivity Commission being tasked to inquire into how the universal service obligation might be updated to meet current and future needs.

National Broadband Network

The National Broadband Network is a focus of the June 2016 issue with four papers providing an insight into the nation’s largest infrastructure project. A historical paper on vibration measurement highlights how times have changed as the telecommunications networks evolve The Government’s review of the Universal Service Obligation has commenced with the Productivity Commission being tasked to inquire into how the universal service obligation might be updated to meet current and future needs.

The NBN from 2009 to 2016 and Beyond - A Commentary on Mike Quigley’s June 2016 Address to the Telecommunications Association

On 22 June 2016, Mike Quigley, the founding CEO of NBN Co, gave an address to TelSoc on his insights into, and predictions for, the Australian National Broadband Network (NBN). This article provides a brief summary of his presentation and a commentary on some of the issues raised. Mr Quigley contended that, if there had not been a hiatus and change of direction after the election of the Coalition government in 2013, the rollout of the NBN would have been completed by December 2021 within a peak funding of $45 billion, broadly in accord with NBN Co’s plans from September 2013. A major part of the original plan was for fibre to 93% of existing premises within the fixed-line footprint of the NBN. He noted that the replacement of the fibre plan in 2013 with a multi-technology mix had slowed deployment. He showed that the Coalition’s assertions while in opposition about the cost and take-up of the NBN had not proved true up to December 2015. Mr Quigley’s critique also raised a number of issues about the future direction of the NBN, particularly with regard to a future upgrade of technology and greater capacity needs.

The NBN from 2009 to 2016 and Beyond - A Commentary on Mike Quigley’s June 2016 Address to the Telecommunications Association

On 22 June 2016, Mike Quigley, the founding CEO of NBN Co, gave an address to TelSoc on his insights into, and predictions for, the Australian National Broadband Network (NBN). This article provides a brief summary of his presentation and a commentary on some of the issues raised. Mr Quigley contended that, if there had not been a hiatus and change of direction after the election of the Coalition government in 2013, the rollout of the NBN would have been completed by December 2021 within a peak funding of $45 billion, broadly in accord with NBN Co’s plans from September 2013. A major part of the original plan was for fibre to 93% of existing premises within the fixed-line footprint of the NBN. He noted that the replacement of the fibre plan in 2013 with a multi-technology mix had slowed deployment. He showed that the Coalition’s assertions while in opposition about the cost and take-up of the NBN had not proved true up to December 2015. Mr Quigley’s critique also raised a number of issues about the future direction of the NBN, particularly with regard to a future upgrade of technology and greater capacity needs.

Security and Privacy Concerns for Australian SMEs Cloud Adoption: Empirical Study of Metropolitan Vs Regional SMEs

New national infrastructure initiatives such as National Broadband Network (NBN) could enable Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Australia to further embrace Cloud computing service. However, the ability of Cloud computing to store data remotely and share services in a dynamic environment bring along with it Cloud security and privacy concerns. In this study, we examined the influence of privacy and security factors on Cloud adoption by Australian SMEs through a questionnaire survey. Data was collected from 150 SMEs (i.e. 79 metropolitan SMEs and 71 regional SMEs) and structural equation modelling was used for data analysis. The findings show that Cloud privacy and security factors are not the most critical concern for Australian SMEs. Moreover, the results indicate that Cloud computing adoption is not influenced by the geographical location of the SMEs. This study extends the current understanding of Cloud computing adoption by Australian SMEs.

Legacy PSTN applications cause confusion: Disclaimers are no substitute for actual service

When faced with the need to move their services to the National Broadband Network (NBN), many consumers discover quite late in the process that their new NBN based service has left their legacy PSTN connect devices behind.

Legacy PSTN applications cause confusion: Disclaimers are no substitute for actual service

When faced with the need to move their services to the National Broadband Network (NBN), many consumers discover quite late in the process that their new NBN based service has left their legacy PSTN connect devices behind.

From Universal Service to Universal Communications

The policy of universal service must change. The 1975 world of a government-owned monopoly provider obligated to provide fixed line voice telephony has been replaced by the twenty-first century reality of Australians using fixed, mobile and text communications over a range of communications equipment and services provided by competitive providers. A new universal service must reflect those changed realities, and with it, the changed environment of a national broadband network, with competitive providers offering service and equipment choice.

From Universal Service to Universal Communications

The policy of universal service must change. The 1975 world of a government-owned monopoly provider obligated to provide fixed line voice telephony has been replaced by the twenty-first century reality of Australians using fixed, mobile and text communications over a range of communications equipment and services provided by competitive providers. A new universal service must reflect those changed realities, and with it, the changed environment of a national broadband network, with competitive providers offering service and equipment choice.

Universal Service in the Spotlight

In the December issue papers cover a range of telecommunications related issues both locally and internationally, including Universal Service, legacy telecommunications equipment and a timely review of the progress of the rollout of Ultra-Fast Broadband in New Zealand. A theme in this issue focuses on Universal Service and provides discussion on what a revised Universal Service should constitute and how this revised Universal Service should be delivered. As the digital transformation of government and community service delivery progresses there is a need to consider how new and upgraded telecommunications infrastructure can be best utilised to provide Universal Service. Another theme in this issue considers how telecommunications and service providers are working to ensure that legacy telecommunications equipment is identified, upgraded where necessary and connected to the National Broadband Network or replaced. Readers will also find an interesting update on the provision of reliable telecommunications to Antarctica and how Ericsson is celebrating the milestone of being a significant contributor to Australian telecommunications over the past 125 years.

Universal Service in the Spotlight

In the December issue papers cover a range of telecommunications related issues both locally and internationally, including Universal Service, legacy telecommunications equipment and a timely review of the progress of the rollout of Ultra-Fast Broadband in New Zealand. A theme in this issue focuses on Universal Service and provides discussion on what a revised Universal Service should constitute and how this revised Universal Service should be delivered. As the digital transformation of government and community service delivery progresses there is a need to consider how new and upgraded telecommunications infrastructure can be best utilised to provide Universal Service. Another theme in this issue considers how telecommunications and service providers are working to ensure that legacy telecommunications equipment is identified, upgraded where necessary and connected to the National Broadband Network or replaced. Readers will also find an interesting update on the provision of reliable telecommunications to Antarctica and how Ericsson is celebrating the milestone of being a significant contributor to Australian telecommunications over the past 125 years.

Local Government Planning and High-Speed Broadband in Australia

The introduction of the Australian National Broadband Network (NBN) in 2009 raised questions about the potentials of the telecommunications infrastructure for Australian urban and regional planning. The recent decision by the Australian Federal Government to build the NBN, using a mix of technologies, has intensified the need to investigate the implications of telecommunications at the local level, as Australian local governments then need to respond differently based on the level of access provided in each case. The paper investigates such implications in the three areas of e-governance, socioeconomic development, and spatial planning. Building upon the international literature, and empirical data collected from the Australian local governments, it analyzes a raft of mostly unscrutinized policy initiatives developed, over the last few years, to guide the early rollout. The findings show some policy development regarding the socioeconomic implications of the new infrastructure, limited understanding of e-governance potentials, and lagging policy focus on spatial planning.