Removing the blinkers over broadband net

When putting in place a national broadband strategy, the Government should not make the mistake of asking why or what for.

The time for such questions is long gone. But they are being asked again by some IT commentators and the telecommunications user association - Tuanz. The latter has gone to the extent of organising a three-day event in Nelson to talk about ways in which broadband can be used.

I have an open mind to such gatherings because it's always interesting to watch a group of people blurt from the top of their heads. But I do question why the use of broadband is the topic. Perhaps it's because so few use the technology in New Zealand - a mere 39,000, of which about 17,000 are business users.

As I've said many times before the slow uptake is because Telecom charges so much for the stuff - exploiting its monopoly hold on the market.

But putting cost aside, many also argue broadband itself is not very compelling. In geek lingo, broadband lacks a "killer app". That's short for application - what you do with the stuff. Hence the Tuanz broadband application think tank and no end of communications and computer vendors bleating the same tune.

But they're all quite wrong. There are plenty of killer apps on the net. Some, like email, are undeniable. Others like free music and pornography are more problematic. But with broadband they all work better. And that's the key to what broadband is - an evolution of the biggest killer app of all time - the internet itself.

Broadband isn't just about speed and greater throughput, it's about ease of access and availability. But until you have tried it, you'll have no idea what that means.

Having the net always on when your computer is on means no more dial-up and no more tying up your phone line.

For those who regularly dial in for their internet access the convenience of always on may not seem significant. But to broadband users dial-up is stone age primitive - like having to go out to the street to turn on your water main whenever you want a drink from your tap. When you can turn on internet anytime, you never want to go back.

Why? Because it's so darned convenient. Ditto for talking on the phone at the same time you're on the net. Ditto again for the extra speed which means less waiting for pages or other downloads to arrive.

In short, broadband is simply more efficient, making internet use for whatever purpose - email, getting information, buying software, or downloading free music - more productive.

Which is what broadband is all about - harnessing the potential of the net for productivity gains. That is the premise that should be central to any national broadband plan. Just as internet communication transformed the way business is done, broadband will transform the efficiency of doing business in this medium.

There should be no question about what it is for or whether it is of any use. Broadband is a quantum leap in telecommunications that is coming whether we like it or not. Those countries that seize the opportunity will gain productivity and growth advantages first.

Which brings us back to the call for a national broadband strategy. Ironically it's coming from the regions which the Government proposes to help through its provincial broadband extension (Probe) project. What they have recognised that the Government has failed to see is that regional access is only half the broadband story. Backbone backhaul capacity and interoperability is the other half.

Despite the jargon, it's not very mysterious. To build broadband infrastructure you need big backbone pipes (usually fibre optic cables) to haul internet back to the businesses and homes that are requesting it. And if there are multiple competitive networks around the country, they need to talk to and communicate (inter-operate) with one another.

That's where the Government could and should step in - providing not just regulations and standards for networks to work together, but also help build out sorely lacking back haul capacity - not to mention international bandwidth needs.

What's needed is Government vision to see broadband requirements now and for the future. Such a vision would see how the Telecom monopoly is holding back the development of broadband - partly because it is hampered by an enormous sunken cost in outmoded technology.

It would also see that much of the country doesn't have sufficient backhaul for broadband to work.

That could bring in BCL and Transpower to build the necessary infrastructure. But that would require not just forward planning but also investment - two things this Government prefers to avoid.

* Email Chris Barton