news The Coalition-led Victorian State Government has again sharply criticised the Labor Federal Government’s National Broadband Network project for not adequately meeting the needs of residents of the state.

In a submission to the Federal Government’s Regional Telecommunications Review this week (PDF) and associated statement by Technology Minister Gordon Rich-Phillips, Victoria said it agreed with Federal Labor that ubiquitous high-quality broadband and the development of the digital economy had the potential to drive important productivity gains and innovation across the economy, as well as boosting health and education outcomes. Like the Federal Government, the state said, it had established programs to support broadband infrastructure development and the uptake and effective use of high-speed broadband.

However, the state added, it was ‘disappointing’ that the early stage rollouts revealed by the National Broadband Network Company so had had not prioritised the regions in Victoria which had “the greatest unmet demand for broadband”. “The Victorian Government is concerned that disparities between regional and metropolitan Victoria may persist during this next phase of broadband development,” the state wrote in its submission, “and could potentially magnify the disadvantages of regional communities as their metropolitan counterparts enjoy accelerated benefits of broadband as the NBN is rolled out.”

During the last Federal Election in mid-2010, Federal Labor reached an agreement with key independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor on the National Broadband Network. The deal will see wholesale pricing equivalence apply between rural areas and the city. In adition, another aspect of the deal between Labor and the independents is that the NBN will be rolled out in order from the bush to city areas, rather than the other way around.

NBN Co’s early stage rollout plan for 2012 has seen Victoria allocated a variety of sites in both rural and metropolitan areas — ranging from Brunswick and Melbourne City to Tullamarine, South Morang, Ballarat, Bacchus Marsh and more.

However, in its submission, Victoria expressed its displeasure with both the locations of the NBN rollout in Victoria as well as the type of coverage being provided.
“The Victorian Government is concerned that the 93% fibre to the premises (FTTP) coverage objective is being implemented without a comprehensive strategic plan for how to best address regional needs,” the state wrote.

“It is important to note that the 93% national FTTP objective logically translates into a much lower percentage share of regional premises (closer to 80%), and that of these, some (as yet unknown proportion) will not receive FTTP infrastructure for up to another 10 years. The gaps in coverage and the length of the interim period before the completion of the NBN rollout are serious issues for regional Victorians and service providers.”

NBN Co, Victoria claimed, didn’t have a strategic plan for its rollout, and so was deploying the infrastructure indiscriminately with no regard to the benefits that might be derived from fibre (as opposed to satellite or wireless) being deployed to a regional hospital, school or business premises. “A better outcome would be derived from a more targeted rollout designed to capture economic and social benefits,” the state claimed.

In addition, the state said there was a “disproportionately low regional Victorian share of NBN Co activity to date”, and in some areas currently served by ADSL2+ broadband, NBN Co was planning to rollout wireless or satellite broadband as a replacement — instead of fibre.

“Therefore potentially, these locations could be stranded on the existing copper network with an uncertain infrastructure upgrade path and severely constrained service competition. Valuable service outcomes that could be realised by FTTP into these locations that host health and education providers may be lost.”

Furthermore, Victoria added, the rollout of the NBN would not solve the issue of mobile telecommunications in regional Victoria — with the network to focus on fixed infrastructure. And the state also warned — as the Coalition has consistently done throughout the NBN process over the past several years — that shutting down existing telecommunications infrastructure in the form of Telstra’s copper network established some of the preconditions for the development of uncompetitive market structures in the long term — as NBN Co will become the monopoly provider of last-mile broadband infrastructure.

Other issues raised by the state include education and the development of the digital economy.

“In the Victorian Government’s experience, the investments and changes required to drive the uptake and effective use of broadband are not trivial,” it wrote. “These include the development of new applications for the transformation of service delivery (both for new services and substitutes), investment in software, hardware and IT platforms, human capital development and business process, behavioural and organisational change.”

“The cost of accessing the NBN service is only one component of the total cost of designing, implementing and sustaining a new broadband application over time. This is particularly the case for the implementation of applications that require significant business change or innovation.”

It’s not the first time the Victorian Government has sharply criticised the NBN project.

In December 2010, Victoria’s technology minister Gordon Rich-Phillips confirmed the state’s fledgling Coalition Government did not support the introduction of Labor’s preferred ‘opt-out’ model for the National Broadband Network, in a move that will force residents to actively choose to receive fibre infrastructure when the rollout hits their neighbourhood, potentially limiting the NBN’s take-up in the state in the medium-term.

In June last year, the State Government argued in a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into the NBN that the project could see the telecommunications sector’s existing “dysfunctional” market structure replicated and competition put at risk. And in October 2011, Rich-Phillips issued a media release demanding the state’s ‘fair share’ of the NBN rollout.

opinion/analysis
I don’t regard most of Victoria’s criticism as legitimate.

For starters, NBN Co’s rollout schedule makes it clear that Victoria is getting a fair whack of early stage NBN infrastructure in the near term. The Federal Government has already substantially addressed the issue of regional areas needing broadband by setting a policy of rolling the network in from the bush to the cities during the major rollout phase from about 2013.

Victoria’s statement that the NBN will not aid in solving mobile coverage in the bush is factually inaccurate. The rollout of competitive backhaul to rural areas and fibre in major city areas can’t help but help the bush get better mobile coverage, and this is an area which has been improving for years, with not only Telstra but also Optus and a rejuvenated Vodafone adding rural coverage on an ongoing basis.

Victoria’s right about there being an issue with some areas currently being served by ADSL and about to be downgraded to wireless or satellite. However, I am confident that NBN Co’s extended fibre rollout plan — which allows local residents and businesses to club together to help fund the fibre to be extended to their area — will address some of these problems, and there’s nothing to stop the Victorian Government itself from chipping in to fix some of these problem spots as the rollout goes on.

The State Government’s claim about the early stage zones not being targeted well is also basically invalid. Right now, with its early stage rollout, NBN Co is not predominantly attempting to fix broadband blackspot areas. It is rather attempting to test its NBN rollout skills in as diverse a range of areas as possible, so that when it ramps up to full deployment mode in 2013 and for the half-decade beyond that, it will have all deployment cases down pat. Sometimes, as in the ACT suburb of Gungahlin, it can fix broadband blackspots along the way — but it’s not a major policy objective right now.

As for the competition issues … these have been beaten around the bush for many years now. I don’t think the Federal Government is going to pay any more attention to them being raised now than the last two billion times they have been raised ;)

Image credit: Still from Gladiator

Related posts:

1. Will Victoria’s Coalition Govt back NBN opt-out?
2. WA Govt funds Telstra mobile expansion
3. Victoria slams ‘risky, uncompetitive’ NBN policy
4. Victoria Govt launches $11m ICT fund
5. Get nicked, Conroy: Baillieu rejects opt-out NBN

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1. NightKhaos
   Posted 23/01/2012 at 2:38 pm | Permalink | Reply

   The only response that I feel NBNCo should give regarding these statements is “diddiums”. Where is the specific areas that need prioritizing?

   If you want specific outcomes, give specific criticisms. What suburbs are in dire need? What towns?

   • Renai LeMay
     Posted 23/01/2012 at 2:45 pm | Permalink | Reply

     That’s about the strength of it.

   • PointZeroOne
     Posted 23/01/2012 at 3:09 pm | Permalink | Reply

     *coughGeelongcough*

     • Michael Wyres
       Posted 23/01/2012 at 3:22 pm | Permalink | Reply

       *coughSecondedCough*

       Seriously though, they should know that the three-year plan is due out any moment, and that they shouldn’t shoot their mouth off until they see that.

       Clearly didn’t read my fine piece of speculation…LOL…

       http://michaelwyres.com/2012/01/nbn-want-a-clue-as-to-when-your-area-comes-online/

2. SMEMatt
   Posted 23/01/2012 at 3:13 pm | Permalink | Reply

   If the Victorian Govt wants to ensure NBN rollout to the state is going to finished how about putting some pressure where it belongs on their federal counter parts who have been doing their best to delay and likely stop the deployment if they get in. As has been pointed out the role decisions have been technical not political.

3. Glenn
   Posted 23/01/2012 at 3:19 pm | Permalink | Reply

   Victorian Liberal Party still doesnt like a Labor somethingorother !!!

4. Duke
   Posted 23/01/2012 at 3:22 pm | Permalink | Reply

   Maybe the poor mans budgie smuggler polly should have thought a little longer before declaring his opt in/out stance on the NBN back in the old days eh? Whos a silly premier then?

5. paul
   Posted 23/01/2012 at 3:35 pm | Permalink | Reply

   how about rolling it out in the werribee/manor lakes area I know about 500 people like myself that haven’t been able to get ANY fixed line dsl service.

   I have been “attempting” to gain a connection since February last year with no luck at all, and this is in useless Julia’s electoral seat.

   I wish NBNco had a clue about anything any time you try to contact them about anything all you get is a generic answer blah blah blah.

   Here’s a clue roll it out where people need it and people will use it, not in the middle of the city aka brunswick where you can choose from any of the adsl2+ providers.

   IDIOTS.

   • Alex
     Posted 23/01/2012 at 4:17 pm | Permalink | Reply

     So it’s NBNCo’s fault that you have had years of neglect?

     Please aim your dissatisfaction dart at the right bulls eye.

     • paul
       Posted 23/01/2012 at 6:35 pm | Permalink | Reply

       No, it’s not NBNco’s fault of years of neglect but itis there fault now that where not even on the next 12month roll out plan, I guarantee that the cable is going straight past my estate on it’s way to Bacchus marsh ( they were running it past before christmas ) and I won’t see any form of fibre near my house for at least 2 years.

       Werribee has been neglected for years and is classed as rural…. err it’s less k/m from the CBD than a good 50% of the eastern suburbs. Now that NbN is rolling out, werribee would have been a logical step in the rollout as it’s a nice pitstop on the way to Geelong.

       yes I’m disgruntled and biased but NBNcoup should at least have some more information when you try to inquire about timeframe’s etc etc.

       • Michael Wyres
         Posted 23/01/2012 at 6:59 pm | Permalink | Reply

         Paul – the three-year rollout out is due out in the next few weeks. Calm down till we’ve seen it.

         If you look at the NBN POI document referenced in my article, you’ll see that the Werribee POI is due for completion at about the same time as the Geelong POI.

       • Alex
         Posted 23/01/2012 at 8:09 pm | Permalink | Reply

         Still can’t see the sagacity in letting those who caused your problem and then did nothing about it for decades, off the hook, then blaming the only one’s who will fix it, but in due course.

6. Vincent
   Posted 23/01/2012 at 3:38 pm | Permalink | Reply

   “Victoria’s right about there being an issue with some areas currently being served by ADSL and about to be downgraded to wireless or satellite.”

   Not true.

   Copper remains outside the Fibre footprint.
   Telstra owns the copper, the copper will remain. Telstra is responsible for the copper.

   NBNCo has nothing to do with copper.
   NBNCo is building Fibre to the home + wireless/satellite.

   http://www.dbcde.gov.au/broadband/national_broadband_network/universal_service_policy

7. OneEyed
   Posted 23/01/2012 at 5:56 pm | Permalink | Reply

   Can’t trust Labor to do anything right.

   • Michael Wyres
     Posted 23/01/2012 at 6:02 pm | Permalink | Reply

     What exactly are they doing wrong?

   • Michael Wyres
     Posted 23/01/2012 at 6:03 pm | Permalink | Reply

     …with respect to scheduling the rollout, that is…

     • Alex
       Posted 23/01/2012 at 6:19 pm | Permalink | Reply

       I think OneEyed may be being frivolous, going by his pen name.

       • Michael Wyres
         Posted 23/01/2012 at 6:58 pm | Permalink | Reply

         No doubt…all the more reason to call their bluff… :)

         • OneEyed
           Posted 24/01/2012 at 9:35 am | Permalink | Reply

           There are many things they’re doing wrong. For a start, the pet food i bought for my cat had increased 20% over the past 6 months. And then there’s the rain, it has been raining a lot lately, that means i can’t go out to enjoy my day because of these Labor monkeys not doing anything.

           • Dean
             Posted 24/01/2012 at 10:05 am | Permalink | Reply

             +1! Why are we spending billions on an NBN that nobody even wants, when I can’t even go outside for all this rain?! Please get your priorities straight, Labor!

             • Clinton
               Posted 24/01/2012 at 5:25 pm | Permalink | Reply

               what we need is some sort of federal umbrella scheme.

           • Michael Wyres
             Posted 25/01/2012 at 10:55 am | Permalink | Reply

             Ahh, troll day…I see…

8. Brendan
   Posted 23/01/2012 at 6:32 pm | Permalink | Reply

   I still find it amusing that a straight-faced Victorian (Liberal) government is having a tantrum over a deployment that their party has vowed to “destroy” at a Federal level.

   And that the alternative is actually no change at all.

   It’s all the Federal Government’s fault for not placating a pack of whiny stone-age idolising idiots whom couldn’t design a post-copper network if their lives, or even an election (for that matter) depended on it.

   Or apparently find any funding to ensure their state has, you know, what they want, either. :)

9. David Peterson
   Posted 23/01/2012 at 7:17 pm | Permalink | Reply

   This is why I love Delimeter. A full article explaining the release, as well as excellent opinion. Compare that to ABC Online’s coverage…

   http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-23/call-for-wider-nbn-rollout-to-regions/3787582

   David.

   • Renai LeMay
     Posted 23/01/2012 at 9:23 pm | Permalink | Reply

     Cheers, much appreciated! Now that the slow news period is more or less over I hope to be upping the quality on the site as much as possible :)

10. Justin
    Posted 29/01/2012 at 2:41 am | Permalink | Reply

    I think allot of people should be dissapointed with the NBN since it is only catering for the Urban areas. Why bother giving the city slickers fibre when majority of them already have ADSL2+ whereas some areas of the state have hardly anything.. i.e. crappy satellite or patchy Telstra coverage. Give us rural people a break and roll the fibre out here you have billions to spend so spend it on the areas that desperately need it!!!

    • NightKhaos
      Posted 29/01/2012 at 3:09 am | Permalink | Reply

      Yeah, good luck finding the funding for that. You do realise that even if you drop the areas that already have adequate Broadband (let us define that as 12Mbps or more) from the map, and the roll out fibre to everywhere else in the country using fibre (in this case it would have to be direct-fibre) it will likely cost more than rolling out the currently proposed scheme, which is, actually, unbelievably generous in the fibre footprint. Imagine running fibre out to every farm in Australia.

      I’m sorry to say, but you live in a small town with less than 1000 people, or on your own farm, you’re going to get fixed LTE or Satellite. If you can’t handle that, move to bigger town, or get your community to fund the millions required to run a fibre spur out to your little corner of the country, where-ever that may be.

    • Renai LeMay
      Posted 29/01/2012 at 3:24 am | Permalink | Reply

      Your comment is invalid.

11. KeithC
    Posted 29/01/2012 at 2:19 pm | Permalink | Reply

    I live in an exchange footprint area that has suffered pretty bad congestion for more than eighteen months now and we recently had the travelling NBN roadshow telling us we have to continue to be a patient town and wait it out till around 2015 – 2016 until the FTTH fibre rollout spreads to us, yet we are one of the fastest growth regions of our state and possibly even the nation!
    So my final catch cry is that I think Queensland and moreso our Central Qld region has a far stronger case than Victoria for a whinge!