Every week, Computerworld Australia collates all the things our readers have been saying about the news, both in the forums and in comments.
Here’s what you had to say on: The Telstra-NBN Co deal
"I cannot recall how much the government received when they sold Telstra, have we (the long suffering tax payer) just refunded that money?" – said Colin on Telstra to reap $11b from NBN deal
"Congratulations to the Telstra Board and management, and to the Government, for negotiating a deal in everyones best interest. Amazing what can be done when people negotiate properly - what a contrast to Solly and the Amigos - Thank goodness that some mining companies, at least, have the good sense to negotiate Livingstone and Thodey style, rather than just rabidly opposing everything that might benefit Australians." – said Ian Dennis on Telstra to reap $11b from NBN deal
"Another dodgy deal sewn up just in time for the election. What's the long term impact of this short term thinking? Unfortunately, our guess is as good as theirs." – said Dean Shannon on Telstra to reap $11b from NBN deal
"My problem is are they going to lay fibre where ADSL is currently available. I can get ADSL2+ through Telstra and i don't want to be told in a few years i need to go to Wireless because they don't want to run fibre to my Rural town." – said Jason on NBN 101: The case for wireless broadband
"Thanks for taking the effort to explain why fibre is needed. Its a real pity the naysayers will probably never read it." – said Glen on NBN 101: The case for wireless broadband
"Nice article, but you didn't clearly explain that with wireless broadband, the bandwidth is shared. If timmy across the street is torrenting 24/7 using his full 100mbps ob his 170mbps LTE wireless, then that leaves 70mbps for the rest of the neighborhood. And while capable of speeds upto 42 mbps, if you have 10 people wanting to download their 300megabyte iphone update they all get to share 4 megabits/sec. Wireless speeds are shared between all users. User A can degrade user B's internet connection easily. With fibre everywhere, this is almost a non-issue." – said PeterA on NBN 101: The case for wireless broadband
"So where are the NBN trials for wireless? Opel was cancelled and we were told there areas would have priority with the NBN rollout... All we have seen is fibre deployments in already DSL enabled areas… Obviously can not trust what this government says... I even emailed NBN co. asking what was happening with the 10%... Not even an acknowledgement that I asked the question..." – said Frank on NBN 101: The case for wireless broadband
"James, thanks for this very useful one-stop guide to the real limitations of wireless and satellite for the forseeable future (out to about 2020). Customer expectations already commonly include streaming video and reliable VoIP telephony. With multiple IPTV streams (e.g. doctor visits by video) to a household also looming, by now no-one disagrees that fibre is the best broadband solution. The Implementation Study sensibly found the "sweet spot" at which fibre must yield to wireless on cost per user, then where wireless yields to satellite wherever fibre and wireless cannot reach. Senator Conroy has done well to stay the course to insist on this solution, but will the coalition keep it? Well, the National Party 2010 Platform released yesterday also demands a fibre rollout prioritised to service the have-nots first. This means delivering first wherever commercial providers will not, including RIM-sufferers in cities as well as regional towns and hamlets. It is a relief to see the social objectives of communications infrastructure for Australia given such prominence, while acknowledging the need to avoid wasteful expenditure where commercial providers are already active. If the Libs take anything away from the Nats' platform, they will also ensure that the fibre backbone rollout continues, and that the outdated OPEL ideas do not consume money creating bottlenecks at nodes that had been better spent on the endgame of unlimited speed fibre to premises. Yes, the timetable might be extended a couple of years while the Rudd-Gillard debts are recouped, but the NBN technological solution is unquestionably the best one." – said Francis on NBN 101: The case for wireless broadband
"Telstra will forfeit its Universal Service Obligations (USO) to a new government entity, USO Co. " ~ " the remaining seven to ten per cent of Australians who will not receive (FTTH) services as part of the NBN will continue to use the copper network for telephony services." So does this mean that the "USO Co." will have to maintain Telstra's copper wire telephony system in rural areas whilst telstra keeps ownership of said wires\system. So if Telstra decides that the copper wires need replacing as they are inferior and don't meet requirements then the "USO Co." will have to pay to replace them ? Damn I wonder if I can lease my car to the government then tell them its not up to scratch, I need a new car." – said marvin on Telstra-NBN Co deal: Telstra plans phased copper decommission
"So NBN heads more and more into private enterprise, this can only be seen as a very good outcome for communications in this vast country, a factor not many on these sites seem to be able to come to terms with!
One can only but congratulate Mr David Thodey,he has looked after his share holders and achieved much more than those who have come before him of recent times.
While there is still much to be done, and the so called agreement is only at Financial Heads of Agreement it is at least a forward step. It does appear to be a "win-win" for all concerned, other carriers will or should be pleased. I guess it will leave little space for the Haters, and Baffoon's to be critical. Maybe they might care to take up the call of where is the Business Plan, and Stop the Filter! Doubt it!" – said Legal Eagle on Telstra-NBN Co deal: Analysts weigh in
"This country is insane. He knows NOTHING ABOUT Telecoms? He has proved himself USELESS and I'm dumbfounded by him SO MANY TIMES. PORTAL? Why where the major ISPS not linked? i'm pretty sure they would have been Internode, Iinet and TPG the 3 biggest players in this country. I wonder how much money the Telstra chief is sitting on after making that daft statement. On another note, I hope Kate Lundy is employed in Telecoms, she actually has a clue and doesn't use stupid derived terms from Government Intranet and make a fool of herself using daft terminology." – said Jim Kenty on Congrats Conroy: Telcos say NBN job well done
"He might have cemented his position, but he can be forced into another role, if he is found unpopular. If NBN has any hope of survival, Conroy needs to get out of the way of other ICT matters." – said Daniel on Congrats Conroy: Telcos say NBN job well done
"Of course David Thodey is enthusiastic - Conroy just gave Telstra $11 billion dollars to rent (not buy) access to ducts. Who else could Thodey count on to be so reckless with taxpayers money." – said Peter on Congrats Conroy: Telcos say NBN job well done
"Conroy's meeting with Telstra:
Conroy: Now listen here Telstra, I'm buying your assets for $11b and I'm not taking no for an answer! Telstra: Okay, okay. You win. But first, let's hit the ski-slopes and finalise this later Conroy: That's a great idea! (after ski trip) Telstra: You're such a great communications minister, we'd say the best Australia's ever had. Conroy: *blush* Telstra: So what was that deal again? $11b to rent our ducts? Conroy: Uhm.. Telstra: Oh! And the government will take responsibility away from us to maintain infrastructure. Conroy: I guess that was the deal.. Telstra: Okay just sign here and everything's hunky dory. (Conroy steps out from the meeting and feels his behind) Conroy: Hmm that feels weird…" - said Michael on Congrats Conroy: Telcos say NBN job well done
"Stephen Conroy listens to nobody. Kate Lundy does. We have more chance of killing of the Mandatory Internet Filter concept with Lundy in office than Conroy. Additionally. Conroy is a complete and utter luddite, where Lundy has shown her knoweldge, willingess to learn, and is open to negotiation. Conroy out, Lundy in, Mandatory Internet Filter OUT. If these three things don't happen" - my vote is not going to Labor. Simple. – said Corsair on Congrats Conroy: Telcos say NBN job well done
Here’s what you had to say on: Alcatel-Lucent cutting 100 local staff
"There were three bidders on this contract, one of the losers is about to "return to there home country", also retrenching a few hundred telco engineers. Problem is rudd/labour has farted around for three years without doing anything. The contract with telstra is still 12 months off...thus all the local suppliers have been unable to sell equipment for 3+ years...they are running out of money and starting to fail... But they cannot complain, else the govenment/nbn will not give them any contract. The companies are going bust but for fear of loseing future contracts cannot speak out... very bad for the country as a whole." – said nbn_insider on Alcatel-Lucent cuts 100 Australian staff
"To be really clear, after the job cuts of about 140, the chief from Paris will announce about 10 top local ALU AU people replacements - country head, hr and business unit managers. This is for real." – said Clarity on Alcatel-Lucent cuts 100 Australian staff
"These job cuts are just a tip of the iceberg. As I’ve seen in the last 15 yeas, the NBN chief is basically a firefighter on the ground; he is good at extinguishing burning fires for quick and instant applause. When it comes to long view on benefits, strategy, industry vision and talent development/retention, he pays lip service. He was the maim man behind disastrous Alcatel Lucent merger. He failed to get top spot in the new ALU. In NBN, it is all about getting political traction. This nbn with its chief is set on the path to eliminate technically talented people from Australia and get low cost goods and services from BRIC nations. THIS IS THE BASIC TENET behind 43b expenditure." – said LongTimeTelecomObserver on Alcatel-Lucent cuts 100 Australian staff
"For a longTimeTelcomObserver you sure did miss the the glaring fact the NBN isn’t $43 billion dollars, that was proven to be incorrect quite some time ago now, figure is around 30 billion over 8 years with that figure adjusted for revenue stream in that time period. And seeing as that revenue stream now includes all of the migrated Telstra base, the figures are at worst 10 billion spent/owing at 8 year point, or predicted break even at 10 year point. These are the latest figures/guess work which is no more invalid as the now discredited 43 billion, or 47 billion which was the first figure. However without a business plan in the public domain who knows, and I sure as hell know you don’t." – said D Newman on Alcatel-Lucent cuts 100 Australian staff
Here’s what you had to say on: Gillard taking over as Prime Minister
"I have supported the Labour party, and voted for them for 48 years. I voted for the labour party as Kevin Rudd the leader. They represent me as a worker and wage earner in Australia. If I were a moneyed person, I would vote liberal. Who wouldn't? I am just so disappointed in the way the Labor Party has gone about dismissing our Prime Minister of Australia. Yes, he has some problems, but who doesn't when they bring about some change. I can't vote for her, she is not the Prime Minister in my mind. I would never vote for Tony Abbot. I like the labour party. Who do I vote for. If Kevin Rudd is re installed - yes I will vote for a Rudd Government again." – said Tony Harry on Search engines running hot on Gillard and KRudd
"I am SO SO Saddened by the way you have treated our Prime Minister Mr Kevin Rudd. I never thought I would see such a public humiliation of our elected Prime Minister, a man that I voted for and would have done again.I think that although he has made some mistakes he has tried always to work for the best interests of the people and would have, like all of us learnt from the mistakes that have been made. I hope that the party learns from this dreadful mistake and I for one will not vote for a party that allows factions to override my vote. I thought better of Julia than to be a party to this." – said Patricia on Search engines running hot on Gillard and KRudd
"I am extremely saddened by the turn of events of yesterday.I voted for the labour party last election because I liked what Mr Rudd had to offer. I also like the courage shown by this man. Every prime minister makes mistakes.The way the labour party went about getting rid of this man elected by the Australian people is dispiccable.I have decided never to vote labour again. This back stabbing that goes on due to these factions is not what I wish to see , epecially towards the elected prime minister. Shame on you ALP." – said Shobha on Search engines running hot on Gillard and KRudd
"Good on you Julia, I wish you all the best. Of course it is unfortunate that Mr. Rudd stepped down in the manner he did, but it was obvious that he was really clutching at straws towards the end, and popularity was declining rapidly. Julia Gillard was the obvious choice for the position. So GO JULIA!" – said Lauren on Search engines running hot on Gillard and KRudd
"I can't believe what Kevin Rudd's own party has done to him. My husband and I both voted for him as Prime Minister and believe he has done a wonderful job of keeping us out of recession. He is an honest, hard-working man who deserves so much better. What an ungrateful party and what turn-coats! You have probably wrecked your chances of being re-elected because Australians don't like people who are disloyal and who are back-stabbers. What does this say about our new leader?
Kevin, you can hold your head high. You were an amazing man as our Prime Minister." – said Kes on Search engines running hot on Gillard and KRudd
"OK you dropped KRudd. Now drop the damn filter. And if you kick ConBoy out at the same time, so much the better." – said Tristan on ICT to remain a strong focus under Gillard: Industry
"I can only hope that they're right about someone with a bit of knowledge of communications / ICT taking on the Communications Minister role. One would think that it's common sense that the minister in charge of something should have at least a rudimentary knowledge of how it works... Here's hoping for less ridiculous laws making Australia look like the laughing stock of the developed world." – said L Constantinescu on ICT to remain a strong focus under Gillard: Industry