IA calls for rethink of Australia's telecom strategy

Internet Australia (IA) has expressed hope that the ACCC’s telecommunications sector market study could trigger a much-needed rethink about the direction of the NBN project.

The peak body’s CEO, Laurie Patton, said the time has come for a serious evaluation of how Australia is preparing to meet future communications needs in the digital economy.

IA has been openly critical of the government’s decision to use copper instead of fibre for the last miles of a significant proportion of NBN connections.

“Without pre-empting what the ACCC might conclude, it is our view that under the government’s current directions, the NBN will not be fit for purpose within 10–15 years,” Patton said.

“So it can only be hoped that the study will result in a much needed rethink about the communications infrastructure required for Australia to actually become an innovation nation.”

Patton said universal access to high-speed broadband and other essential communications tools is vital to Australia’s economic and social development.

“People with disabilities and those living in rural, regional and remote Australia are telling us that they have for many years been left behind when it comes to broadband access,” he said.

“This has been inextricably linked to a lack of competition in these areas, something which the NBN project was intended to address by providing a ubiquitous broadband platform on which all retail service providers could compete on equal terms.”

IA also repeated its call for the government to review the performance of the NBN in response to low take-up rates and a lack of consistent information about broadband performance. The ACCC is currently evaluating whether to introduce a monitoring program for all fixed broadband networks.

Image courtesy of hillman54 under CC