#U/C: $43billion FTTH NBN

[Howie]

Mixed deployments... some of the fibre goes overhead (aerial deployment), some use existing ducts (what this deal is all about), and some areas have to be trenched (cut and cover fibre deployment).

The cut and cover is the ripping up of roads you speak of, but it's incredibly quick these days with these ultra expensive fiber trenching machines. You really should google these, and check out the videos of them in action.. they'll do a road in minutes.

If they're ultra expensive, why are they used rather than trenchless technology?

Sometimes you've got to trench where you have no previous cable. Either you go above ground or under ground, there's no such thing as trenchless technology in greenfield developments.

And while the machines are ultra expensive, the reason they're going to be the machines of choice is because it can replace dozens of machines performing similar roles and the labour to man them. Plus it'll mean less disruption for everyone. Does that sort of make sense?

[Howie]

Do you remember when they laid the Foxtel cables? On my street at each it was just a hole at one end of the street and a hole at the other, and they force the cable though somehow.

Then Optus came along and tried to put them all above ground.

Optus had no access to pits, so it was all aerially deployed. I was spewing, as my previous house had optus coaxial to the street pole out the front but we couldn't get connected. And it's the same deal with my new place i'm moving to.. coaxial cable on the pole but can't get connected. Thank god the HFC network is now dead (apart from foxtel) from this new deal, it'll end the decades of shenanigans we've had to put up with.

[peas_and_corn]

I can't wait for 100+ mbps. There's already talk about foxtel network moving wholly to the NBN and even becoming an ISP, which would be awesome.

It already is, I get my internet from the foxtel cable (I'm too far from my exchange to get ADSL)

[Aidan]

Mixed deployments... some of the fibre goes overhead (aerial deployment), some use existing ducts (what this deal is all about), and some areas have to be trenched (cut and cover fibre deployment).

The cut and cover is the ripping up of roads you speak of, but it's incredibly quick these days with these ultra expensive fiber trenching machines. You really should google these, and check out the videos of them in action.. they'll do a road in minutes.

If they're ultra expensive, why are they used rather than trenchless technology?

Sometimes you've got to trench where you have no previous cable. Either you go above ground or under ground, there's no such thing as trenchless technology in greenfield developments.

And while the machines are ultra expensive, the reason they're going to be the machines of choice is because it can replace dozens of machines performing similar roles and the labour to man them. Plus it'll mean less disruption for everyone. Does that sort of make sense?

Yes, that does make sense. Although for greenfield developments its not that you can't use trenchless technology, it's just that there's no advantage in doing so - there's no point avoiding digging up a road before building it!

[Howie]

Just for those of you who're inclined.. the slidenotes from NBN Co Network and Operations Info session.
http://www.nbnco.com.au/content/upload/ ... tation.pdf

Very interesting stuff.

•Fibre To The Premise—FTTP: (100Mbps) to 90% of premises
•Satellite and wireless (12 Mbps) to the remaining 10%
•Roll-out over approximately 8 years
•10 million + points of connection
•Some 4000 points of connection per day (YIKES!!)
•Direct construction workforce of between 15k to 20k FTEs at the peak of construction (READ SKILLS SHORTAGES!)

[Wayno]

A few guys at my work did some NBN price/speed analysis based on the Tasmania NBN rollout - iinet’s prices are below.

As a comparison I pay Internode $50/mth for 30Gb but under the NBN I’d get 10Gb for $50 – a higher download speed (25Mb v 17Mb), but one third the data allowance! So unless I need the higher speed - why would I change? I haven’t even considered the initial setup and cabling costs.

Also, seems part of the Telstra/NBN deal is that once fibre is fully operational in an exchange servicing area, Telstra will de-commission the exchange (effectively pulling out the local copper loop and selling it for scrap). So "good bye" to choice, although I suspect that Telstra will absorb the fibre install costs to ensure they keep 99% of their existing voice customers.

nbn-iinet.JPG (52.26 KiB) Viewed 2466 times

[Howie]

Thanks for that breakdown Wayne. I think the industry is really trying to work out what would be the ideal entry price point at the moment, and when telstra give up their copper network they'll be made to compete like everyone else.

For some sort of idea as to what pricing will be like when the NBN gets further rolled out, have a read of this article :
http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/2145 ... -15gb.aspx

CEO of Internode, Simon Hackett was suggesting that the sweet spot will be under $30/month for a 15gb limit. That's effectively where ADSL is right now and exactly what is needed for a mass migration over to the new network.

[Wayno]

Hey howie, long time no post - hope you are well

Yep, you're right. I also suspect the pricing will adjust as the rollout broadens, although i'd be curious to know the adoption stats for Tassie right now - NBN does not seem compelling unless you happen to live 30km or more from an exchange and are experiencing woeful ADSL speeds.

[Howie]

Hey howie, long time no post - hope you are well

Yep, you're right. I also suspect the pricing will adjust as the rollout broadens, although i'd be curious to know the adoption stats for Tassie right now - NBN does not seem compelling unless you happen to live 30km or more from an exchange and are experiencing woeful ADSL speeds.

Heya Wayne, yep been trying to stay away from the internet for a while.. work's been pretty busy lately, other than that i'm alright.

You're right there's no real compelling reason for the average joe to move to the NBN right now, but eventually all telephony will be moved over to the fibre network, and there's a lot of good reasons why they'll move coming up soon. Just last week hulu the online video service announced they'll be going onto the playstation and xbox live networks, google tv will be release soon, and it'll be interesting to see what apple do. Video on demand will be where it's at I reckon. Couple of weeks ago a colleague of mine rented an online video via the new playstation vidzone store, proper hd movie for around ten bucks I think.. problem is it doesn't stream down so he had to download the film in it's entirety which took around a couple hours (4 gb of data).

Another interesting thread here :
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-re ... 57552.html

The first post from a NBN customer.. he sounds pretty stoked.

[Wayno]

Noticed this while walking back to my car after the TDU (Aldinga Rd Willunga):

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DSCF0634.JPG (270.35 KiB) Viewed 2380 times

[Omicron]

I would like to combine this with the Buckland Park thread so that I can confine my distaste to one giant thread of fail.

[Aidan]

I would like to combine this with the Buckland Park thread so that I can confine my distaste to one giant thread of fail.

What makes you think the NBN would fail?

[Isiskii]

I would like to combine this with the Buckland Park thread so that I can confine my distaste to one giant thread of fail.

I'm sorry sir, but I must respectfully disagree. Therefore I bestow you upon with the honourary badge of fail. I think more champagne for you at the Gallery would be in the forum's best interests to stop furthermore nonsensical squabbling of such matters.



Yours sincerly,
You know who.

[Nathan]

I would like to combine this with the Buckland Park thread so that I can confine my distaste to one giant thread of fail.

The only fail that I can see, is that there's someone wearing Crocs...

[Wayno]

The only fail that I can see, is that there's someone wearing Crocs...

lol. my daughter's friend...