[mGGDrGooSe]

So I talking to a mate of mine who works in the security installation industry (things like cameras, card readers and associated networking tech) and he was saying that there is the possibility that when the NBN is finalled rolled out ADSL technology will effectively no longer exist. I believe the infrastructure, such as DSLAMs, are not compatible. Anybody in the industry know what the NBN means for the average user in terms of real impact? I believe the cheapest plan is like $50/month with a ridiculously low usage allowance. Does all this mean that at some point relatively soon I'm gonna be faced with either having useless, unaffordable internet or no internet at all?

[Fadey]

Theres alot of talk around this , there will be affordable internet. Alot of companies want adsl network to exist along side nbn which technoglogy wise it can but at the moment they are planning to decommision the copper (adsl) network after nbn is in and running (years away still).

[Paroxysm]

NBN won't be running for the next 5+ years at the VERY MINIMUM. It is likely it will take a lot longer than that, and until then, the ADSL network will not be decommissioned. You will probably find that until ADSL is taken out, NBN will be reasonably high priced, but when people are forced to use it as it is the only option, it will be provided at a slightly cheaper price.

Quick Comments

eCKo`Tazerenix:

[Welshy]

Well the NBN is provided by the government as I understand and as most people know what the government is like with money you could guess what prices would be like, but its like anything new it will be incrediprice and decrease ^ like what Paroxysm said.

[NOM]

What concerns me more is What rural Australia will have instead of ADSL. Fiber-optic will only run to county towns that are on train lines. I'd hate to use wireless whenever I visit my parents that live 20 mins drive away from fibre-optic cables. D:

[ikki]

I'm sure adsl will still be offered for a long long time, I mean you can still get dial up.

[breadfan]

Originally Posted by Paroxysm

NBN won't be running for the next 5+ years at the VERY MINIMUM. It is likely it will take a lot longer than that, and until then, the ADSL network will not be decommissioned. You will probably find that until ADSL is taken out, NBN will be reasonably high priced, but when people are forced to use it as it is the only option, it will be provided at a slightly cheaper price.

It's already running in some areas (the areas represented by the independent politicians who decided the last federal election). Stage 2 is happening now through the next twelve months, stage 3 (which unfortunately includes most of the real parts of Brisbane, where I am) will be over the next 3 years.

As for ADSL, I would just think it would be redundant. It's like getting a new road and wondering if your horses are going to be compatible with the road surface. The future is here, get a car.

The copper network will only be around for as long as the government (who now own it, or will own it, not sure if that sale is final) feels it's worth the cost of maintenance. Which might only be in the areas where fibre isn't available.

[Paroxysm]

Originally Posted by breadfan

It's already running in some areas (the areas represented by the independent politicians who decided the last federal election). Stage 2 is happening now through the next twelve months, stage 3 (which unfortunately includes most of the real parts of Brisbane, where I am) will be over the next 3 years.

As for ADSL, I would just think it would be redundant. It's like getting a new road and wondering if your horses are going to be compatible with the road surface. The future is here, get a car.

The copper network will only be around for as long as the government (who now own it, or will own it, not sure if that sale is final) feels it's worth the cost of maintenance. Which might only be in the areas where fibre isn't available.

Yes, but at the moment, I am living in a small country town in Queensland, which won't be getting NBN in the next 5 years at least. Just because Brisbane is getting it in 3 years, doesn't mean it is the be all and end all of everything. They WILL NOT shut down ADSL until EVERYONE in Australia can access the NBN, and that will not happen for a long time.

[Cordance]

Originally Posted by NOM

What concerns me more is What rural Australia will have instead of ADSL. Fiber-optic will only run to county towns that are on train lines. I'd hate to use wireless whenever I visit my parents that live 20 mins drive away from fibre-optic cables. D:

They just need to use the old fashion carrier pigeons to get the information to the cable. That or they might do what they say they will ... NBN FAQ/how much coverage

information about "wireless" NBN access
For those of you too lazy to click the link. Fixed wireless is not like normal wireless. The idea of fixed wireless is kind of like TV you have something to receive (and send) a signal on your house. Then from there everything is cabled like normal. So its only the outside of house that is "wired" differently to normal NBN connections. Its so close to the carrier pigeon idea only they worked out how to make the pigeons quicker.

Paroxysm dont feel too bad I live 5 min from the heart of Adelaide and I am not mentioned in the 3 year part of the roll out.

[Paroxysm]

@ Cordance, it still sounds like complete shit. I mean c'mon - 'Lets spend billions of dollars on the NBN, but let's only do a half assed job in which the big cities are the only ones which benefit from the full program, with regional areas (THE MAJORITY OF AUSTRALIA) being forced to use a wireless version which peaks at 12Mbps rather than 1GBps download '

[Bloodmyst]

Originally Posted by Paroxysm

@ Cordance, it still sounds like complete shit. I mean c'mon - 'Lets spend billions of dollars on the NBN, but let's only do a half assed job in which the big cities are the only ones which benefit from the full program, with regional areas (THE MAJORITY OF AUSTRALIA) being forced to use a wireless version which peaks at 12Mbps rather than 1GBps download '

Hey Parox, what part of Townsville you live in? Wouldn't you be experiencing the benefits of NBN already? I'm sure they have finished the project in Aitkenvale and are currently working in Heatley (Where my family lives).

The thing that sucks most with wireless is interference. It doesn't matter how fast they can make it, unless some Einstein out there can figure out a way to reduce the interference down to fibre/cat standards it's useless for gaming.

You would think Mount Isa would be a high priority for the NBN, considering it's a mining town + the amounts of money the mining industry brings into Australia. But I guess they do need to start at the core before they start branching off in rural areas.

[Paroxysm]

Originally Posted by Bloodmyst

Hey Parox, what part of Townsville you live in? Wouldn't you be experiencing the benefits of NBN already? I'm sure they have finished the project in Aitkenvale and are currently working in Heatley (Where my family lives).

The thing that sucks most with wireless is interference. It doesn't matter how fast they can make it, unless some Einstein out there can figure out a way to reduce the interference down to fibre/cat standards it's useless for gaming.

You would think Mount Isa would be a high priority for the NBN, considering it's a mining town + the amounts of money the mining industry brings into Australia. But I guess they do need to start at the core before they start branching off in rural areas.

I'm not directly in Townsville, I'm living in Ayr, south of there by about 100km's. We won't be getting NBN for a loooooooooooong time sadly. There are a few places within Townsville that are getting NBN as we speak however.

Quick Comments

Bloodmyst:

Ouch! In Ayr huh... yeh thats gotta suck....

[Cordance]

Originally Posted by Paroxysm

@ Cordance, it still sounds like complete shit. I mean c'mon - 'Lets spend billions of dollars on the NBN, but let's only do a half assed job in which the big cities are the only ones which benefit from the full program, with regional areas (THE MAJORITY OF AUSTRALIA) being forced to use a wireless version which peaks at 12Mbps rather than 1GBps download '

As the FAQ says 12Mbps is still a far cry higher than most people who will be getting the "slow speed" can get now. Their goal is to give ADSL speeds to everyone. The "majority" of Australia as you say will get slow speed, however the majority of people (voters) will get good speeds. Politics sadly works that way.
The information is right off the NBN website so we have to assume its true.

There is a lot of strange stuff that has to do with the NBN for example they demand that the cable be run in a size conduit that isnt made in Australia (so you can install it in something else until it starts to get made). To connect to the NBN you require some hardware to be installed to your house. Once its installed (which you pay for the equipment and installation) it is then signed over to the NBN for them to own. The reason is so you dont disable NBN when you move house but still kind of funny how you pay it and then dont own it.

There are a lot of flaws in the NBN but its the best we are going to get for now. I am hopeful that the Australian people will, when repairing and reconstructing infrastructure they will work on expanding the NBN after the main project is complete. I wouldnt hold my breath but it might happen.

[Peleus]

Any town over the population of 1000 will be receiving the NBN. If you're below that it's not typically economically feasible to run fibre to that area. There will still be a copper network in this area giving you the availability of ADSL, supplemented by wireless services. NBN is not a complete replacement for copper everywhere, there will be a mix of networks for many years to come.

[Paroxysm]

My town's population is over 9000 (DBZ Reference for the win!), though I highly doubt we will get NBN anytime soon (5-7 years). Forgotten North Queensland... haha

[Sats]

I am a Telstra line technician, and I can guarantee that the copper will be removed and sold once the NBN is fully functional.

That being said, the Government is hugely under estimating the cost and time to complete the project. Ten years is laughable.

For example, the test release area of Minnamurra NSW, only 15kms from where I live had a budget of $12 million. From what I understand they actually spent closer to $60 million in the area, with many unforeseen issues slowing the rollout down, and blowing budgets out the window.

They also lack the man power to meet their targets, the majority of work being completed by contractors currently. If they had half a brain they would contract Telstra field staff for the task.

Hope you're in one of the areas that gets rolled out in the initial stages before the liberals come back into power and throw a curve ball.

[Bloodmyst]

So it's fairly likely that only 50% of Australia will be covered by NBN. Too bad for the other 50%.

With all the problems labour has had between Rudd and Gillard..... I'm not so confident they will get back in....

P.S - Sad face.

Quick Comments

TCPLemminks:

Currently stocking my house with canned foods for when he brings us back to the 90's

[dippa]

Originally Posted by Drgoose

Does all this mean that at some point relatively soon I'm gonna be faced with either having useless, unaffordable internet or no internet at all?

wtf no.

don't think of the NBN as faster internet

think of the NBN as a replacement for the copper wire that forms the basis of all telecommunications in this country

the answer to your question is: your ADSL service will continue to operate until the copper wiring is replace with fibre by the lads at NBN Co, at which point your ISP will migrate your service or you'll have the opportunity to purchase a new plan from a different provider.

and as people have already said, the NBN network is already operational and people on it are paying about the same for current ADSL2+ services (but without the ignominy of having to pay extra for a phone line, which people always forget to factor in).

(NBNTP Silver 300 300 GB Shaped Counted VoIP Dynamic $74.95 /mo for 25mbps/5mbps w/Internode, for example)

another thing people need to remember is that the total capital cost of building the network - $36.1 billion - is spread over 12 years. people are happy as **** for the national disability insurance scheme to kick in ASAP, but more than happy to ignore the fact that it costs twice as much to implement right now when we supposedly can least afford it (even though that's not true either).

but yeah, nbn rollout probably won't finish unless turnbull wins government as PM and has a change of heart. never know what might happen though!

[Cordance]

Originally Posted by Sats

They also lack the man power to meet their targets, the majority of work being completed by contractors currently. If they had half a brain they would contract Telstra field staff for the task.

I believe your half a brain your talking about is the exact reason they are not getting Telstra involved with it. Telstra is a privatized company. Keeping Telstra from owning any steak in NBN was one of the major political things that had to happen to get it passed. I doubt Telstra would be willing to assist in the NBN at an executive level for this reason.

[dippa]

Originally Posted by Cordance

Keeping Telstra from owning any steak in NBN was one of the major political things that had to happen to get it passed. I doubt Telstra would be willing to assist in the NBN at an executive level for this reason.

*wonders if NBN steaks get delivered to your door faster*

also, contracting telstra staff to rollout the network doesn't mean you have to give them ownership of the project

it just costs more; probably so much so that it wasn't a realistic option (given the cost of the project already)

Quick Comments

Bloodmyst:

Mhmmmmm... steak.... hahahahahhaha!