From: Babyack, Sharon (SEN)
Sent: Wednesday, 23 July 2003 1:43 PM
To: Babyack, Sharon (SEN)
Subject: FW: Inquiry into competition in broadband services



-----Original Message-----
From: Graham Leake [mailto:graham.leake@iee.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, 9 July 2003 8:29 PM
To: ECITA, Committee (SEN)
Subject: re: Inquiry into competition in broadband services


Graham Leake CEng CPEng MIEE MIEAust
PO BOX 393
BAYSWATER WA 6053

Regarding (b)any impediments to competition and to the uptake of broadband technology.


I only have one observation I would like to add to the mix, which is that there are a large number of people unable to connect to a physical (non-satellite) broadband connection in any older or outer suburbs of capital cities, including myself. Most CBDs are wired up with new cable or radio-WAN; country areas are being focussed on through issues with selling Telstra, but those of us in the middle are falling through the cracks.

I have tried for 3 years to get connected to ADSL or any other 512kbit or faster interface, and I am only 9km from the Perth GPO. We are the group of people "more than 3km from an exchange", usually on older exchanges. There is in fact an exchange about 1km from me, but our street is not wired to it. Satellite is not an option since it is only broadband in one direction and thus is still slow for video conferencing and less mainstream data sources that are not "channeled".


I have spoken to many people over the last few years who are all in the same position - can't get ADSL, can't get cable, and radio WANs have not yet been set up to cover residential areas. I also notice a lot of similar complaints on the Whirlpool broadband internet forum.

In conclusion, the above problem of the outer and older suburbs is impeding the take-up of broadband sevices.

Regards

Graham Leake