Thursday, October 14, 2010

Australia - Govt has attacked the Brisbane city FTTH scheme as lacking a cost benefit analysis

[arn net] Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, said Brisbane’s plans to build its own fibre broadband network has no cost-benefit analysis and is at odds with the sentiments of Shadow Communications Minister, Malcolm Turnbull.

Brisbane will build the network through its wastewater pipe system within four years after becoming impatient over the Federal Government’s National Broadband Network rollout.

The SMH reported that Lord Mayor, Campbell Newman, a Coalition party member, has announced the city has struck a deal with i3 Asia Pacific and the company will act as a wholesale Internet provider. The network will not cost ratepayers, according to the Mayor.

Speed of the network is said to be up to 100Mbps downstream, enough to rival the NBN.

Construction is set to begin next year and Senator Conory said he welcomed the plan.

“We note this proposal has not been subject to a cost benefit analysis or a detailed implementation study,” he said in a statement.

“The Mayor’s proposal clearly disputes Malcolm Turnbull’s claims that people living in cities already have adequate broadband.”

Turnbull's spokesperson could not provide a statement specific to the Brisbane fibre plan.

The Federal Government has been criticised on numerous occasions on the lack of cost-benefit analysis for its $43 billion NBN.

Conroy: Brisbane broadband network has no cost-benefit analysis

No comments: