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$43 BILLION broadband network - do we even need it?

23/08/2010 2236 Views 7 Posts Reply to Discussion Posted by NotMsDewey

Posted by Editor

Sydney, Australia, 17/08/2010

Julia Gillard has announced that Labor intends to spend $43 billion on the National Broadband Network to improve internet service around the country. What do you think about this?

Surely this is a great idea once public hospitals, schools and infrastructure has been improved, and $43 billion is a phenomenal amount of money that would go a long way. By world standards our internet services are very fast and reliable with far-reaching coverage, so do you think the government should look at its priorities or do you believe we need to invest money in national broadband?

Posted by pinkclover

gold coast, 17/08/2010

Some of this funding is coming from the company who are investing in it, so the govt. is not footing the entire bill. We need the NBN for the jobs it will create, so we can lessen the digitial divide, and get more out of e-health. What the Coalition is offering as an alternative on this topic is an absolute joke. Australia will be left behind if we don't act on this now. 10 years ago people probably didn't think the internet would turn into the big deal that it is today. How many businesses wouldn't be in existence today if it weren't for the internet? If you live in a big city, your internet is probably ok. If you don't, then you'll still be missing out if this plan doesn't go ahead.

Posted by maxbliss

adelaide, 17/08/2010

We live in a known broadband blackspot
-in the foothills of adelaide with hills around us and valleys,"were on the end of the line away from the source", whatever technical mumbo jumbo that means and we only had dial up speed until almost 2 years ago.
-however we wanted broadband speeds as we had 3 computers in the house=painfully slow and frustrating gggrrrrr.
Telstra and Optus couldnt do it..we had to find a private company to install broadband wirelessly and it was our saviour

-without internet, we are left behind-this is important infrastructure we cant lag in or do without...i live 12 kms from the city but due to the geographical planes/area, it was a nightmare to provide internet at a fair cost, so i say please please bring it on...and soon

Posted by BoojiDawgy

Marina Del Ray, California , 18/08/2010

It's an investment in the future!!!!!!!!!

Posted by BoojiDawgy

Marina Del Ray, California , 18/08/2010

Posted by Cloudberry

Brisbane, 20/08/2010

Editor said: By world standards our internet services are very fast and reliable with far-reaching coverage, so do you think the government should look at its priorities or do you believe we need to invest money in national broadband?

It's not until you travel to different parts of the world that realise just how bad our internet services are here in Australia. I think the money is justified because it will help Australia to keep up with the rest of the world. So many organisations, medium and small businesses operate online these days that it will benefit them greatly. Don't forget that the health and education sectors also rely heavily on internet technology so it will benefit them enormously too.

The job creation resulting from the upgrade is also important to consider. Bottom line, I think it's a great idea!

Posted by NotMsDewey

East Gippsland,VIC, 23/08/2010

Fast broadband (or, indeed, reliable broadband of any type!!) is a huge asset here in rural/remote Australia where many schoolkids and tertiary students use the net to do courses online, either with Podcasts, Web 2.0 videao linkups and e-library research. If you don't live near a government service centre or post office, many modern transactions (paying the car rego, banking, paying rates and rent) rely on you having access to broadband. It is also very useful to hook up Skype to your broadband service so you can talk to girlfriends and loved ones across the country, which reduces the feelings of isolation and associated mental health impacts!! It is also very comforting to be able to chat on to your herbalist or medical specialist for an hour on the phone and realise it will only cost 49 cents, thanks to broadband!!! I feel for those in the country who don't have access to any broadband yet (including Aboriginal communities who could really use the opportunities it provides). For those of us who have friends who have to sit halfway up a certain tree with a laptop before they can access the satellite network on their property, Mr Abbott has made it that much more difficult to deal with various Ind. MPs in the House of Reps - a real dealbreaker!

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