In preparation for its fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) rollout, the Federal Labor government is resuming its campaign to change legislation to allow it to access the AU$2 billion regional and rural Communications Fund, which the government claims is needed to bankroll part of the network's construction.
The Federal Government has announced an up to $100 million investment in the 2009 Budget to assist the development of smart grid technology to create a "smarter and more efficient energy network".
Opposition Communications spokesperson Bruce Billson has said the Coalition will attempt to block the Federal government's proposed use of the AU$2 billion Communications Fund to build its national FTTN network in the Senate.
The 2009 Federal Budget has placed a significant focus on programs to support digital television initiatives over the next few years.
Opposition Communications spokesperson, Bruce Billson, has misfired in an attack on the Federal government over the use of the AU$2.4 billion Communications Fund to back the national fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) network.
It was interesting to witness Conroy's recent enthusiasm to spruik the NBN's role in supporting the Smart Grid, Smart City initiative. What a pity that Conroy hadn't yet seen the damning report from the Victorian auditor-general about that state's smart-meter roll-out.
In a massive "special edition" of our telco podcast Twisted Wire, we talk to virtually everyone in the telecommunications industry about the break-up of Telstra, including man of the moment, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.
Shareholders got a rude awakening this week as Stephen Conroy made good on industry calls to break up Telstra. Some argue the government has been duplicitous and should be held to account, but those who sit tight may find the new Telstra offers a far better value proposition with better long-term opportunities.
Like the engineers that sat down on day one with an empty blackboard and a mission to get man to the moon and back, building the NBN from the ground up is a daunting and complex opportunity that will present more than its share of challenges.
Rural areas will be welcoming the government's decision to put its money where its politicising is, funnelling $250m into a regional fibre upgrade to six rural centres. Remedying over a decade of near-neglect at the hands of telecoms privatisation, the investment could be the firmest step yet for Labor's NBN dream but with inevitable political questions and a looming election, Rudd and Conroy need to deliver, and quickly, to preserve the NBN's credibility.
The Federal Government's committal to spend up to $43bn of taxpayer funds without rigorous and detailed analysis and economic modelling of the National Broadband Network is simply extraordinary.
Loosening the regulatory controls on Telstra might actually make it easier to attract customers away from its copper network and onto the new and shiny National Broadband Network.
A simple way forward for the National Broadband Network and for Telstra has now emerged.
With a series of strategic appointments, management consultancy McKinsey has placed itself perfectly to benefit from the massive $43 billion slush fund the Federal Government is describing publicly as "the National Broadband Network project".
If the sale of the SingTel Optus HFC network to the National Broadband Network Company goes ahead, it could mark the first significant strategic victory by the company since it lost the cable wars a decade ago.
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