The Expert Taskforce have revealed the guidelines which FTTN proposals must adhere to. I got a copy of them for myself and thought I’d run through some of the proposal questions, since that is what essentially is important here.
They go through a few questions, such as:
Project Title:
Bob’s Faster Than Telstra’s Network (Bob’s FTTN).
Name Of Proponent:
Bob..
Consortium Members:
Bob and Jim from Jim’s Mowing
Proposal Summary:
We will give you a broadband FTTN (Faster Than Telstra’s Network) broadband network.
This network will include wholesale access to all providers on equal basis, as Bob and Jim have no intention of retailing, we simply will make sure we make our network affordable and try and get big customer numbers on board, and after that expand our network to be offering services on many levels, so we can generate revenues from the core network infrastructure, without becoming a retailer of broadband services, or disadvantaging ISPs who wholesale.
The network will cover all the regional areas that are left neglected, and fix up many of the broadband black spots that users are having as a result of Telstra’s upgrades being poorly planned.
Summary of Aus. Gov. Objectives:
We will meet the objectives by delivering cheap broadband connections on the wholesale level, and allowing multiple wholesalers to prevent any conflict of interest, so that we can have a competitive levelled telecommunications industry.
We will also meet any and all regulation requirements which are fair and reasonable, and have valid points backing them.
We won’t be submitting paper work if the prices of services are obviously not a issue, or if there are no wholesale issues. It makes no sense.
Project Costs:
The project is estimated to cost somewhere between $1, and $3 – 4 billion. That’s not really much of your concern however, as the key aspect for this is the assessment of the regulatory requirements and the delivery methods, impact to industry. Our costs aren’t YOUR problem.
Index of Annexures:
– None. Our proposal is simple. A FTTN (Faster Than Telstra Network) at fair prices to wholesalers who can choose how to compete with each other to gain consumers.
Additional Confidential Information:
– Nothing to hide unlike some big telcos.
Proponent Details:
– We don’t have a big office building, which is how we save on costs. We don’t need a big building to compensate for lack of size in other areas.
Infrastructure and Consumer Outcomes:
We propose to rollout a FTTN (Faster Than Telstra Network) to Australians in Metro and Regional areas. These services will be excessively Faster Than Telstra’s Network services, and provide for future proof upgrading to FTTH, which is a item coming to the network after the millions or billions we poor into it are recovered. This could take 10 years, 20 years, or 30 years. It can happen sooner for some consumers if they want to foot the installation costs for what could be offered to wholesalers as a future, futre upgrade, which will ensure the service they have will remain Faster Than Telstra’s Network.
Capacity of services is whatever you can fit in a big fat 1.2Tbps fibre pipe line across international waters. Since we are basically going to buy out Southern Cross Cables, there’ll be no issues with international backhaul, and since that is the case, we will have no requirement for a set limit.
Now we realise we are being unreasonable here, and potentially going to put high, high, high speed broadband in the hands of n00bs, the actual outcome will likely be a acceptable usage policy to ensure users are fair play users, and aren’t abusing the internet by attempting to copy it faster than it grows.
It will be open access, so much so that any old joe can plug a fibre cable into the network and receive services, and due to its completely open nature, it will interoperate with everything, or we will make it that way.
Network Coverage:
The network will cover as many places as we can get the network to reach to stop the suffering of Telstra’s excessively priced slow broadband services.
Timeframe:
However fast we can get people to work. Might be very fast if Howard gets elected with the new IR laws which will allow us to pay the employees “competitively”.
Network Construction:
The network will be constructured of fibre from recycled breakfast cereal. Users will be migrated as more fibre from recycled breakfast cereal becomes available.
Retail services:
Since we aren’t pigs, there are no retail services, wholesale only, and wholesale prices are set the same across the board for all ISPs, so they can compete however they like to. We get our costs, they set the prices and provide the services however they like.
Consumer outcomes:
Consumers get access to services delivered on a Faster Than Telstra’s Network (FTTN) broadband network.
Effeciency:
We are very energy effecient.
Competition:
We don’t compete, but we aren’t anti competitive. As for retail competition, things could become a war zone, but we won’t get involved there, that’s between each ISP / Battle Station.
Open and non discriminatory access:
Because of a low cost model, we can’t afford to be liable for discriminatory actions, so we won’t discriminate, and our network will be more open than a 24 hour McDonald’s.
Wholesale Strategy:
Confidential information of Wholesale ISPs will be protected just like our network. Open and non discriminatory access.
Wholesale Pricing:
Starts at $1, inc GST.
Losses in rural areas:
Since the FTTN (Faster Than Telstra’s Network) services are expected to see everyone jumping on due to the price hike that Telstra applies being no longer relevant, and Telstra coming to a point where it is going to have no choice but admit that it doesn’t actually have excessively high costs in Regional areas, we believe the services will pay for themselves (as they will do, because the prices are based solely off costs, and nothing else).
Regulatory and Legislation Changes:
None required.
Compliance with legislative or regulatory requirements:
Something tells us the rollout of the network and the prices they’ll be provided access to, and the method of access will not require any real compliance, but of course we won’t try and break any legislation or regulation.
Binding Commitments:
We commit to deliver a FTTN (Faster Than Telstra’s Network) broadband network.
Assurances Sought:
The assurance that this proposal will be accepted.
Corporate Structure:
We aren’t a pig filled corporation.
Responsibilities of Consortium Members:
Jim will cut the grass. Bob will roll the cables.
Consortium Agreement:
Jim agrees he will cut the grass. Bob agrees he will roll the cables.
Roles of stakeholders:
To give Australians fast internet access by cutting grass and digging holes where required, and running fibre cables where required.
—
I was thinking I might do something different, something a little more.. well I won’t describe, but if I think of it, I might put that up tomorrow.
Enjoy!