The G9 telcos behind the proposal in competition with Telstra’s FTTN network, have made some ground, ahead of Telstra, as is nearly always the case, gotta love innovation.
Anyway, just today they have submitted a draft plan to the ACCC for their proposed FTTN network.
Look at the essential differences between the proposals:
1. Telstra’s plan doesn’t yet seem to mention how they’ll keep competition getting a fair go, and how they’ll be billed. The G9 proposal states they can offer any product they like, they pay wholesale access, and can do whatever they see fit with configuration and offerings.
2. The G9 plan helps competition, by seperating all retail down to just one body, who will not have a retail interest, and instead, be a wholesale only provide of FTTN access. That means, they’ll bill for telephony interconnection, internet access, and any other services they can offer with fibre in 1.5km’s of reach of a customer’s premise.
3. They mention they’ll be expanding into Newcastle and several other areas. Telstra stated they would only eventually extend into Regional areas after they have the metro areas covered.
4. The G9 plan has one minor setback, which can be solved in a few ways, that’s Telstra’s copper network. They are gonna have to steal it from them one way or another, so might as well as do it legally and get legislation changed to allow for such copper network access.
You know, the funny point with this all is. They propose to give Telstra 5.00 a month for each copper line, used or unused. That’s pretty good. That means, for all the copper pairs, they’ll be paying Telstra a guaranteed 5.00 a month.
Telstra currently get 0.00 from disconnected lines, that sit there, doing nothing. They do make a lot off line rental though.
But of greater interest here is, the proposed broadband prices. $45.00 / mth for FTTN broadband access (wholesale).
Telstra’s current 8Mb/384kbps Artificially limited ADSL plans start at 56.00, ex GST, and that’s before other ESSENTIAL costs are added, like AGVC and so forth. So, before it even gets to the ISP, its likely costed them near 65.00 just for the port, the customer still has to pay for the line rental, and of course, the ISP has to add some data usage, and support, and heck, they are a business, so some profit too.
Now, you take current 8Mbps pricing, and knock at least 15.00 or more off, increase the speed to either full ADSL2+ speeds, or even VDSL speeds.
And you get.. ta-da, great value broadband options.
Broadband that whips Telstra’s arse.
This is a no brainer people. They’ve got the right ideas, they’ve got the right prices, they’ve got a more than acceptable technology for current requirements proposed. The only missing link is how they propose to get Telstra’s copper wire. That’s the real deal breaker here, because it would require public to vote, and I’m not sure just how well people will read through it, and get a lot of ideas around it before they vote yes or no.
Of course, we’ll have a heap of biased Telstra shareholders who can’t see passed the end of their… wallets. And a lot of Whirlpool users (except 1 or a few, Tolmartyr comes to mind), and after that, you might see some legitimate, semi-informed votes. From those who read the proposal, and don’t have a biased interest.
I’m going to state I am unbiased on this one. I want cheap, fast, competitive, economy enhancing, broadband, not as a G9 Active Supporter, but as a Australian. I want telecommunications access that is equivilent to that available in <> 150kms from me, in Sydney areas.
Am I asking too much? I didn’t think so.
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