Broadband

We’ve updated our Internet Statistics resources page with the latest ISP Survey from Statistics NZ. Run annually, the 2011 Survey (as of 30 June 2011) is an excellent way to keep tabs on the evolution of Internet access. Also, given that it’s a census with high response rates (100% for key respondents), it makes the numbers authoritative.

There’s been too much talk of broadband speeds, committed information rates, coverage percentages, regulatory frameworks, etc. from Government. The White Paper from Dr Tim Williams, Connecting Communities, is a refreshing change. And well timed.

There has been one overriding goal of the Government’s Ultra Fast Broadband (UFB) efforts so far- reduce prices to drive up customer uptake. Whether it’s the network architecture or excruciating negotiations, it’s all been about keeping prices down.

That’s a good thing. Even if low prices are only a “necessary but not sufficient” factor to drive customer uptake (there’s other important stuff too like data caps). But let’s focus on the “necessary” bit of UFB prices for the time being.

This is a guest post from Jay Daley, Chief Executive of .nz Registry Services.

The best way to explain ENUM is to start by talking about email and remind ourselves how that works.

There’s a danger that people pushing the case for fibre need to be careful about- a focus on Internet connection speed alone risks missing the rest of the picture.

Look at Brian Fallow’s “Do we even need ultra-fast broadband?” in the NZ Herald and Ernie Newman’s response “Don't fret, our broadband policy is sound”.

I've been at the TelCon11 conference in Auckland yesterday and today.

There is a clear rumbling within the industry about the next stages of the Government's ultra-fast broadband package, the $1.35bn investment in fibre to the premises that is currently moving from policy to digging.

I was one of three speakers this morning at NetSafe’s regular Spotlight event, speaking today on ultra-fast broadband (UFB). Di Das from Computers in Homes and Russell O'Brien Vector Communications, along with Martin Cocker (NetSafe’s executive director) were the other speakers.

I focused my comments on what is happening to get ultra-fast broadband available, and what we might all be able to use it for. A copy of the presentation in PDF form is available here if you’re interested.