The Rise and Fall of Australia’s $44 Billion Broadband Project Why Australia decided to abort an ambitious fiber-to-the-home plan IEEE Spectrum Rodney S. Tucker 26 Nov 2013 http://spectrum.ieee.org/telecom/internet/the-rise-and-fall-of-australias-44-billion-broadband-project/
Just about five years ago, the global technology community was taken aback when Australia’s government announced an audacious plan: to deliver broadband Internet to every single resident of the country via fiber-to-the-premises networks. Despite the project’s hefty price tag and major logistical challenges, many observers noted that the project’s expected impact (putting Australia among the world leaders in telemedicine, remote education, and e-commerce) made it worthwhile. But a new government, elected in September, plans to radically scale back the plan to save money. Upgrading on the cheap could mean that Australia will lose an opportunity to become a leader in the global digital economy—and still end up costing more in the long run. A member of an expert panel that evaluated proposals for the original plan explains. -- Regards brd Bernard Robertson-Dunn Sydney Australia email: [email protected] web: www.drbrd.com web: www.problemsfirst.com Blog: www.problemsfirst.com/blog _______________________________________________ Link mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/link
