Forum Home
PC World Chat
Thread ID: 60338	2005-07-29 04:28:00	Election Season -> Fix Telecom?	qyiet (6730)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
376607	2005-07-29 14:21:00	I don't discuss my politics on internet forums. But for the sake of information, I pass on stuff (obtained via Juha Saarinen's Fry Up - by courtesy of IDG, who makes Pressf1 possible) which gives an indication of the current government thinking on broadband. It won't satisfy anyone who wants everything tomorrow, but does show that they're not ignoring the problem. It's a speech by government minister David Cunliffe, who not only compares our situation unfavourably with Korea, but says that if we want to look good in OECD rankings, we need 600,000 broadband connections now - rather then Telecom's 250,000 target by the end of the year. These things look bad for governments, not just feel bad for users. So he's talking about reigning in Telecom. In the future..and that future seems to be getting shorter. I'm not going to precis the whole speech. Anyone interested enough to read - rather than just sound off at Telecom - can find it at www.beehive.govt.nz	Laura (43)
376608	2005-07-29 14:29:00	Darn, I see my link didn't work fully. So click on Latest Releases & scroll down 10.	Laura (43)
376609	2005-07-29 14:39:00	As much as I woulkd have liked to read the speech before commenting... Object reference not set to an instance of an object. Which is the most retarded way of saying page not found I have yet seen, No doubt the webidiot behind it fancies himself. Anyhow, Their speches carry less weight then our "sounding off", at the very least we are the people concerned and our agenda is honest and in black and white. For whatever reasons (presumibly there are negative reactions to enforcing the will of the people onto big business) the Government pantie-boys would rather let Telecom be on top.Cant see that changing,at least to to any reasonable amount. I dont even know if it should, It was the Government who created the situation we are now in, and I don't believe for a second anyone in the "Hive" gives a damn if the international community thinks we don't have enough ADSL customers. I sure has hell don't give a rats arse about OECD rankings....	Metla (12)
376610	2005-07-29 14:45:00	Right, I have now read it, Its piffle. Nothing new, Nothing substantial, just another speech designed to appeal to a chosen audience. What needs to be done would kneecap Telecom, and no government is about to do that, They pay far to much tax.	Metla (12)
376611	2005-07-29 17:24:00	You may indeed be right in your assessment, metla. As someone who's on DialUp with no worries as yet, I'm not beating my breast to get Broadband (Well. not until it's a lot cheaper) so this is just an academic discussion to me. I'm not a gamer - just interested in how the world turns overall - and a variety of opinions. So obviously those of you who have strong opinions on this subject will be sending them where they'll actually count - rather than a wee rave here which makes you feel good without a real affort..	Laura (43)
376612	2005-07-29 21:43:00	Right, I have now read it, Its piffle. Nothing new, Nothing substantial, just another speech designed to appeal to a chosen audience. What needs to be done would kneecap Telecom, and no government is about to do that, They pay far to much tax. If there were lots of companies providing say twice as many connections,wouldn't there be more tax?	Cicero (40)
376613	2005-07-29 23:18:00	According to Telecom, there may be too many companies (ISPs) expecting to use Telecom's assets to take our money. What actual value do most of them add? Although some of them may be prepared to invest in their own equipment IF the local loop is unbundled, in the end they (Telecom and the rest) are only in it for the money. CityLink at least are getting on with their own network.	PaulD (232)
376614	2005-07-29 23:36:00	The latest (third, by our count) TVNZ foray into the digital realm appears to have unceremoniously sucked the kumara . The Freeview digital service was announced by the state broadcaster in 2003 . The plan was to offer a free digital service to those prepared to invest in a set top box . But all of a sudden, nothing is happening on the Freeview front . Word within around the market place is that the project has been put on ice . All of which leaves several really interesting questions to be answered . You see, to make the service possible TVNZ took a three year lease on a satellite transponder . The cost: a little under $7 million a year . And an option on a further transponder was signed up as well . But now, the Freeview service seems to be going nowhere . Any pretence that a rollout is imminent has been abandoned . So the question which remains is just why the state broadcaster has committed to $20 million worth of transponder space which clearly it can’t use . Not as interesting as Judy Bailey’s pay packet, but surely worthy of an explanation . Interesting story that Cicero . I was wondering when they were finally going to get round to free digital broadcasts . Looks like I might put off getting that nice widescreen lcd for a bit longer (suits me as the prices will come down even more in the meantime!)	manicminer (4219)
376615	2005-07-30 03:54:00	Polys don't make the lawns. Beurocrats do. Dosen't matter if Labour, Nats, NZFirst are in power. Thats why election promises get broken. WHATS WRONG WITH TELECOM ANYWAY? My phone, internet always work.	FirkinDirkDirkin (8622)
376616	2005-07-30 10:22:00	Sorry Laura, I didn't bother looking at the link, anything that compares NZ network infrastructure and access favourably with Koreas doesn't have any credibility . Korea at least has gone beyond paying lip service to the economic importnace of having a strong communications and ITC infrastructure with the implementation of true broadband and faster internet (80% of households with 20MB/s connections with an aim to have 70% hooked to 100MB/s by 2010) . There are similar countries to NZ with far superior internet services, so population and geography are only contraints where the will is no there . There's very little difference between the two main parties and their respective IT(C) spkmen, Cunliffe and Williamson . The latter has been there before, has shown his abilities and understanding in abundance, unfortunately, neither has shown an abundance of ability or understanding, except, as pointed out, for glad-handing industry and consumers alike . Woosh is a no hoper as a line replacement, they've trialled VOIP, but it's never going to succeed while the equipment and tech isn't up to the mark and the coverage is so megre . Someone mentioned that the Guvement shouldn't be involved in this kind of thing . Bollocks, they should not be in the business, but they should be laying dowen the framework (policy), regime and leadership that industry works within . At the moment it's open slather for one player while the rest get crumbs and the consumers get to assume the position . While it may not necessarilly require LLU (but I think it does), number portability and splitting off lines and equipment (Telcom) and the ISP (Xtra) is a bare minimum to proved better service and product by way of competition . If there are too many providers, let the players compete on a playing field that is level(ish) rather than the sharply tilted one we have now, let the excess fall by the wayside . As long as the regime is in place to keep out the complete cowboys (Telecom?), consumers and business should be able to enjoy the environment .	Murray P (44)
1 2 3 4