Shadow Minister,
If you're working on comms in lifts I presume you have an unrestricted cabling license. There's no reason that the final telephony leg can't be in remain as copper. The fibre only goes as far as the first point and internet, TV and phone all extend from there independently.

In any case, the vendors who have been supplying switching equipment to Telstra (Ericsson & Alcatel), Vodafone( Ericsson) and Optus (NorTel) are phasing out those technologies and they will soon be unsupported. Telstra are currently "mining" their own sites to redistribute cards that they can no longer obtain. The new generation are SoftSwitches are all IP based. Technology is changing rapidly.

"Too expensive, over-engineered and underutilised". That's what they once said about the Sydney Harbour Bridge too.

rstuart,
Most of the land lines went straight away too, because the RIMs they were connected to also lost power.

Rstuart,

This took me one attempt to find on google.

http://www.broadbandexpert.com.au/broadband-news/broadband-news/wireless-internet-connections-in-australia-show-impressive-growth_773195

and

http://www.broadbandexpert.com.au/broadband-news/broadband-news/a-rise-in-wireless-subscriptions-of-51-percent-causes-opposition-to-hit-out-at-nbn_77685

These are backed by government studies and statistics from the ABS.

My point is that the business case for the NBN for which the government outlaws competition, and is only marginally profitable, is a sham.

Rache,

Your comment "There's no reason that the final telephony leg can't be in remain as copper." is the whole point of the Coalition's fibre to node, which costs only 10% of Labor's plan and delivers 90% of the benefits.

Dear Shadow Minister,

I'm sorry but they are really fraught statistics. While as a family we have 4 wireless connections 95% of our collective data downloads come from fixed line to our house.

As in my earlier example even those who are solely wireless for home use may well be doing it because it is the only way to access the Internet.

My brother-in- law is only 8kms out of a major town yet is forced to string an servant IPad up in the corner of a window to get a decent signal. They have tried 3 different carriers to little satisfaction. They have a lovely house but there are serious discussions about selling up to find a place with better access. He runs a decent sized export business and has four bright, data needy, children at school.

What would be good is to see data on the choices made by those who had the option between wireless and fixed for their home.

My feeling is it may throw up a potent vote shifting need that the Liberal party is ignoring to their peril.

@Yuyutsu: I hardly see why such a convertor-device should cost more than $5

Unfortunately Yuyutsu the differences between how ADSL and fibre sends information is larger than you imagine. It is more like the difference between analogue and digital TV. They ultimately carry the same information, but the way they do so is as different as a cassette tape and a mp3 player. And the outcome is the same as well - you need something a complex as a setup box to convert between ADSL and fibre. Such things do exist - they are the DSLAM's I mentioned earlier, which are found in telephone exchanges. They aren't cheap.

It just dawned on me (sorry for being slow), your concern is you will have to replace the telephone wire to your office with ethernet cable. Sorry, it's unavoidable. Your other option is to use wireless. The wireless equipment that can transmit 10km or so would set you back $400..$500, but you will need power at both ends. Mind you, will need power for the NBN box anyway, which you didn't for your ADSL splitter.

@rache: Shadow Minister, If you're working on comms in lifts I presume you have an unrestricted cabling license.

Probably not. I gather he is a power engineer. So he would do design, not installation.

@Shadow Minister: This took me one attempt to find on google.

I could find that on google too. I thought you were going to give me figures showing fire panels using copper to the exchange instead of fibre to the exchange were more reliable.

Just by the buy, no one disputes Apple is doing real well selling iPhones right now, and so smartphone sales are driving the demand for mobile phone plans with some data thrown through the roof. Do you have one, by the way? If so, made the mistake of watching some youtube video's on it yet? It can be a very expensive mistake to make.

@Shadow Minister: My point is that the business case for the NBN for which the government outlaws competition, and is only marginally profitable, is a sham.

Since you don't say, I'm going to take a guess here as to what makes it a sham. If they do manage to capture the revenue for the bulk of broadband traffic it looks like they have a good chance of pulling it off. So I presume you are implying they won't be able to do that, because wireless will end up carrying the bulk of it. To bolster your case, your quote Nick Minchin.

Ah yes, Nick Minchin, the Liberal party progressive known for his brilliant insights into science and technology. Wasn't he the guy saying in 1995 he didn't believe the case for smoking being addictive had been proved? So now he is saying fibre will fail because it will be replaced by wireless.

Look Shadow, I'll put it as plainly as I can:

IT. ISN'T. POSSIBLE.

I am not saying it isn't economically possible. I saying physics won't allow it. It's pretty simple stuff really - not much different to trying to shove 100 amps down a 4mm wire. Somehow I don't think you, being an engineer, would have much trouble grasping the concept if it agreed with your politics.

You don't have to believe me. A moments googling finds http://www.abc.net.au/technology/articles/2011/02/17/3141215.htm I'll quote the relevant bit:

"Ziggy Switkowski, previous CEO of Telstra, weighs in on the debate on fixed line versus wireless with the opinion that the demand for bandwidth is growing faster than the capacity of the 3G wireless spectrum which will drive up wireless costs and keep bandwidth hungry applications on a fixed, wired network with wireless for when we are mobile."

As for the government outlawing competition, that would be of deep concern if there was any competition. But there isn't. The Liberals privatised a monopoly, and left it intact. It wasn't their finest moment.

csteele,

How do you feel about your fixed line connection. I get speeds between 12Mb/s and 18Mb/s, as can most of the 90% of Australians who live in Metropolitan areas. These are where the NBN intends to make its profit, and will offer the majority 12Mb/s with 25GB download at about $70pm.

As I already get far better for 1/2 the price, I am more than a little angry that I will have no option but to subsidize Labor's white elephant.

Can you honestly say you will be better off with the NBN?