It is unlikely that your estate is being wired up with "pair gain"; to my knowledge, this approach uses copper all the way back to the exchange, but jams multiple users on the same copper as a cost saving mechanism since the cost of running new copper is relatively high. My girlfriend's parents had this going on at their place, and after a request they were able to be transferred off it without too much fuss (about 6-8 weeks of time to make it happen end to end), and they were able to get ADSL2 fine since they just got jumpered across to some copper that wasn't "gained".
What is more likely is that you're actually the "victim" of "fiber to the node" technology, which was the previous plan/model for the NBN. Using this model, Telstra would still act as the "last mile" (or half mile), using copper to get to your premises, but using fibre or some other high bandwidth circuit to get from the exchange to your street, block or estate. In your case, the "node" is probably a fairly powerful RIM, which takes the fibre signal and then connects to the copper running to your house. To make ADSL work - which by its nature is using a part of the spectrum which doesn't travel as far without noise along copper that little old voice signals - you need to have both your modem and filter on your end, and a thing called a DSLAM on the telco end. For those of us with copper right back to the exchange, you benefit from them having a LOT of spare real estate in most (especially suburban) exchanges (what used to take a whole floor for switching and termination equipment can now be squeezed into a fraction of the space), and they put in these DSLAMS. My guess is that the DSLAM running on your RIM is the real problem; it is only configured for ADSL1. The economics of RIM mounted DSLAMS are harder to make happen - I'd love to hear from someone in the telco space on this - but the short version is that the realistic market on your RIM is probably a few hundred subscribers, but the realistic market at an exchange if an ISP pays to put in a DSLAM is in the thousands and thousands. I don't know if an ADSL2 DSLAM is bigger or more expensive than an ADSL1 one, but I'd be willing to be that squishy little RIM on the side of the road can't easily fit DSLAMS from Telstra, Optus, Internode, iiNet and TPG, so the Telstra one that's there and wholesaling to other ISPs isn't facing a lot of competition (many exchanges, with their larger space and better economics don't have ADSL2 yet), so the spend on ramping it up probably isn't going to come. As for the core question about Councils and their controls on this sort of thing, I've worked with Councils as clients for a number of years, and they're certainly not the most tech savvy types you'll come across. In terms of telco things, there is the Universal Service Obligation that means you can expect within reason to get voice service, but beyond that all aspects of entitlement and expectation are pretty much off. The real answer to your problem, and the problems of many of us, is Fibre to the Home, FTTH. Fibre's ability to ramp up bandwidth over distance is simply incredible, but as we know the cost of digging trenches and terminating residences all over the country is going to be HUGE. If there is a silver lining from your plight, it is likely that the cost and ease of putting FTTH in your neighbourhood is going to make it more attractive than having to sever a copper cable that travels a longer distance; they can run fibre to your place, and hook that back to the RIM, so perhaps you'll benefit from the NBN before those of us on ADSL2 do... Geoff -----Original Message----- From: silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com [mailto:silicon-beach-austra...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of mmp1 Sent: Thursday, 28 May 2009 9:24 PM To: Silicon Beach Australia Subject: [SiliconBeach] Re: fwd: Wrapup and publicly editable briefing paper for the Public Sphere event on high speed bandwidth Hi Pia, haven't had a chance to read the subscription, but could you outline the role of local councils in the delivery of broadband ? There is a reason i ask. Let me explain... We recently relocated back to Oz late last year and have taken up residence in a town just outside of Melbourne (for now anyway). We are only about 30min drive to the center of town. BUT.. This area has had a lot of development, in fact there are over 5000 new houses planed over the next few years. Where we live are 100's (maybe 1000's) of new homes (ie. less than 5 years of age). But non of them have access to ADSL2. Only ADSL1. I infact I live less than 1 KM from 2 major switchs (has a pile of optical running into them). At the moment they service 3G towers. But no one in the town (thats a few thousand people) can access any of this new tech ? And I live in a house less than 1 year old. In fact they are just building the last house in my street. My suburb is basically brand new. And NO ADSL2. Why ? All the houses have been wired up in what is known as (I always get this back the front, so if i do, excuse me for not being a sparky) a PAIR GAIN configuration - from wikipedia - "pair gain is a method of transmitting multiple POTS signals over the twisted pairs traditionally used for a single traditional subscriber line in telephone systems. Pair gain has the effect of creating additional subscriber lines". So adsl2 needs 2 POTS but someone - don't know if its telstra or the developer - have wired up 1000's of new homes in a manner that STOPS the deliver of high speed broadband. The infrastructure is here. The optical is here. Just all the houses have been wired up in a manner that NO ONE can get it. Instead we are being offered ADSL1 (or high end ADSL is available ie. 8M) or 3G (which just doesn't work). So whats my point? I suspect this is probably pretty rampant. Why are councils allowing this? Who is responsible. We are about to spend billions , but what are we doing to leverage all these new developments ? why are telephone services being provided to new developments in a manner that will not connect us to the current decade ? What provision is being made in the new proposal to engage councilors and developers to help build this network ? --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach Australia mailing list. No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself: http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia/browse_thread/thread/99938a0fbc691eeb To post to this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
