Firstly, I have no idea just how much money has moved under the tables with this news, as it certainly does seem someone is being paid to publish what could be rubbish.
It seems like they are happy to write what seem to be lies.
Here’s some of the lines from the article in question:
OPEL, which has no experience building or operating a WiMAX network, was chosen over competing bids from Telstra, the incumbent telecom, and the AUSAlliance, comprised of Austar and Unwired, who own and operate some 200 Mhz of WiMAX spectrum covering the extent of Australia.
OPEL have experience in wireless networks.
Think about it this way, did the first company to use a WiMAX network have experience to start with, using a WiMAX network? No. So how on earth would they get experience? Exactly. Deploy it, see how it works. If it doesn’t, they’ll find the bugs quick enough, or if need be, change technology used to the upgradeable WiMAX mobile.
Following the government announcement, OPEL admitted that in fact it would use a combination of WiMAX and ADSL technologies to build the network. The joint venture also will invest some US$775 million of its own money in the project.
It plans to use ADSL2+, and not ADSL technology. Further, it plans to use WiMAX where ADSL2+ coverage is not feasible at all. That makes logical sense.
However, the plan set forth by OPEL will not use standardised WiMAX, which relies on licensed radio spectrum in low frequency bands. The OPEL plan calls for the use of unlicensed spectrum in high frequency bands (5.8 GHz and 28 GHz).
They plan to possibly use 5.8Ghz. Nothing near 28Ghz. Further, the usage of 5.8Ghz shouldn’t be much of a problem for MANY, because neighbours in the city live right on top of each other, and you don’t see any issues with differing or same cordless phones, and home wireless networks don’t interfere with cordless phones, despite using the exact same 2.4Ghz network.
Although room for interference exists, it’s not likely to be a problem for the many, and for those that it is, well, it’ll be more likely they have issues with FM radio than it is with 5.8Ghz.
The choice of radio spectrum in this plan has been criticised by many in Australia as grossly inefficient because the cost is more than double of what could be achieved using lower frequencies.
Sure that might be the case, but what lower frequency do they have to use, at the same time realising that this is a government and private funded project, and as such they need the dollars to go as far as they can go. So, using a spectrum they don’t have to pay a bill for is .. well, smart!
ADSL technology requires an existing network of copper telephone lines, which is convenient for cities that have an installation. However there is no such network in rural Australia. The time and cost of laying thousands of miles of copper wire that connect to far-reaching areas is a technological step backwards.
There is a copper network in regional australia. They plan to lay 0 copper wires, as they plan to use ULL or LSS in existing areas with copper phone lines in place.
Where on earth they pulled that rubbish from is beyond me. If it’s somehow a paid for comment post with Telstra involved, this marks a new low of stupidity for them, they have no idea what the assets they have are!
The url of the article is here: http://www.wimaxday.net/site/2007/06/21/us15-billion-and-on-the-internet-no-one-knows-i%e2%80%99m-a-kangeroo/
You might notice that Telstra decided to jump on it to discredit OPEL even further, but the deal is done, they’ll get the towers up, and the technology in, and worst case scenario, they change technology either now or down the track to a technology that is just as capable, if not further, with minimal change to customer side equipment. WiMAX Mobile comes to mind, which is a upgrade from the fixed WiMAX anyway.
On the other hand, it could just be someones uninformed and uneducated post, in which case it still should be given minimal credit. They’ve done bugger all research to come to the conclusion regional australians don’t have copper at their doorsteps.
Enjoy