Science funds, $20 Family plan problems and gigabit wireless web

You have to applaud the Government's 'Fast Forward New Zealand' plan to put $700 million of additional funding into scientific research and development aimed at the primary sector, especially as it comes hot on the heels of an unprecedented expression of discontent from scientists, who claim the Government is too stingy on R&D funding.
Some interesting feedback from Herald readers on this.
But I have to agree with Crusader: "As well as increasing funding for blue sky research, NZ needs to attract biotech/diagnostic companies (as well as Ag/Sci and electronic/IT) to set up research bases here by providing a business-friendly environment, even if that means tax breaks for them. Tax breaks for R+D would stick in the craw of Cullen, but they would pay off big time in the long run."
More discussion on the funding boost in the Aardvark forums.
A few questions emerge - and I haven't seen any documents from Jim Anderton, the MED or the Prime Minister's office yet to answer them. While the Government wants the private sector to chip in to the fund to boost it up to a total of $2 billion over time, is this private sector funding conditional on the $700 million being allocated?
There's also some big gaps to be filled in the detail of how the management of the money will be handled. As Anderton said: "An establishment group has been formed to provide detailed recommendations on the fund's management. It is envisaged that a joint government and industry body will administer the funds to ensure that they are targeted effectively."
Despite the fact that 57 per cent our export revenue coming from the primary sector, I can't agree with Anderton when he says that "every iPod we import, every car, every cell phone or computer, can only be paid for with the earnings of this sector."
" If we want to enjoy the best the world has to offer, we have to earn a global income. And while I want many more of our sophisticated and creative industries to become truly global, only our primary industries have the scale, sophistication and capability for now," he added.
Maybe so, but instead of thinking about now, maybe Anderton needs to think more of the future. Sure commodity prices are likely to stay high, but aren't we supposed to be removing our reliance on the primary sector to take advantage of the weightless economy, all that stuff?
I think the ICT industry needs some serious attention to go hand in hand with the funding boost for primary-sector R&D. That doesn't necessarily mean more public-sector ICT funding, but some innovative thinking around stimulating activity (see Crusader's comments above).
Vodafone's wayward family plan
Vodafone seems to be having trouble provisioning its $20 Family calling package which I wrote about a couple of weeks ago.
Max emailed me this morning to tell of the pains he has had to go to try and get onto the Family plan: "Now that I called [Vodafone customer service] this morning, on the 5th day since applying for it, I'm told that they have a technical issue ... but can't commit and say how long it will take to resolve, or what kind of compensation will be given."
Vodafone admits there's a problem and puts it down to high demand for the service - lots of people are apparently trying to sign up for it pushing out the promised five day maximum provisioning time. But Vodafone tells me "we are giving customers a free month of Family if it does take longer than five working days". Make sure those of you trying to keep it in the family collect that $20 credit.
1Gbps over wireless?
That's right, 1000 megabits per second connectivity delivered over a wireless network. Is that fast enough for you? And, shock horror, it is being delivered here in New Zealand. FX Networks which operates a North Island fibre optic backbone and is part of the Government's KAREN high-speed network project, is using wireless technology to connect customers that fibre doesn't reach.
Wireless network provider Araneo Networks is taking care of the wireless network side of the service, which has linked an Industrial Research facility in Parnell to FX Network's fibre pipe taking traffic to the IRL facility in Wellington.