Sorry for the ignorance, Southerner:

By "FTTP" I think you mean fibre-optic lines: I don't really care whether the line from the exchange to my home is made of copper or fibre-optic, as long as there is a line. I am also not concerned with the costs and who will provide it: will there still be, in your view, such a line at all in 20-30 years?

Yuyutsu,

I had to find the truth by searching the internet as to how FTTH/FTTN actually worked.

Currently ADSL +2 like ADSL is program to run from your local exchange.

As to whether Landline Telephony will be around in twenty or thirty yeears time will depend on whether Telstra maintains the service. If they are not prepare to upgrade the exchanges to carry VDSL when it arrives and add to the fact, if Labor's plan for broadbabd is to offer incentitives for providers to extent the service to cover 98% of Australian people that will spell the end of Landline Telephony.

To be quite honest with you, all telcos will offer a Internet Phone Service either in their own right or in a partnership with an Internet Phone Service Provider. Why, they can provide it at a reasonable cost without the current over heads, such as buildings. maintainence cost and with reduce staffing levels.

Well, basic phone services are such an essential need that they should have remained as a government responsibility in the first place. Mobile phones are immoral - I guess I'll need to start raising pigeons.

Learn more about FTTH go http://www.conniq.com/InternetAccess_FTTH.htm

If Telstra, G9 Group and others do not follow the Scandinavian Fibre Operators where they use ‘Open Access’ than FTTH will be beyond the reach of Residential Customers.

Open Access means all providers have access to one system. The Scandinavian Fibre Operators have found that they can compete with those who only provide ADSL+2.

My message to Telstra, the G9 Group and other providers share the cost of building and maintaing one system for all to use. If not, be prepared to wait 50years or more before you even look like making a profit, why because you won’t have the customer base. Having examined the real cost, Alone Wolf will end up in the Bankruptcy Court.

Whether we have a Liberal/NP or a Labor Government they must promote Open Access when it comes to FTTH or leave Australia behind the rest of World.

Mr Howard and Mr Rudd right now we are faced with having two or more FTTP formats. Do you realise that Telstra could be one to face bankruptcy because you refused to retain the infrastructure side of the business

I don't think any government that is put into power really considers the bigger picture past the term they are elected.

I do question the FTTN being a consideration as this is now out-of-date technology.

AT&T have U-verse for streaming HDTV with recording technology built-in.
Down Streaming up to 6Mbps and Up Streaming up to 1Mbps.

Why would not the telco and the Australian Government be looking at a long term solution to take us into the next 10 - 15 years.

As for throwing $4.5 billion (Taxpayer dollars) on a project such as the future of communication network that will need to be up-dated within 4 - 5 years, because it can't handle the growing demand for services. Please Mr Howard or Mr Rudd, depending on the future of the pending election, this communication issue is an election issue please get it right for all Australians' not just the ones that live on the Eastern Seaboard.

Collector_AUS

Before putting U-verse as the solution, I would suggest that you go to http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/vdsl.htm Than tell me which one is best.