National Broadband Network: A Comprehensive Report on Implementation

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the National Broadband Network (NBN), addressing key problems, challenges, and complexities associated with its implementation. It begins by identifying the critical decision of determining the optimal network connection speed and the corresponding cabling and networking equipment. The report delves into the challenges, including scheduling, budgeting, land acquisition, and the competition between NBN and incumbent providers. It also explores the methodologies, tools, and technologies required for successful deployment, such as business planning, network design, and the use of various assets like conduits, fiber cables, and network termination devices (FTTP, FTTN, FTTC). The report concludes by summarizing the importance of fast universal broadband networks and the need for careful planning and resource management to ensure the NBN's sustainability and success. The report also includes references to various research papers and studies related to the topic.

Running head: NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK INTRODUCTION
National Broadband Network Introduction
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK INTRODUCTION
Summary
With the rise in importance of internet services in availing the facilities and amenities of our
societies, rises the importance of fast universal broadband network plans. This leads to the
report to talk about national broadband networks, the associated problem, the challenges and
complexities involved and the tools and methodologies required for implementing such a
network. The report first identifies the key problem which is to finalize on how fast a
connection should the network offer to the end users and should decide with the cabling and
other networking equipment accordingly. Thereafter the report proceeds to present
thoroughly the corresponding challenges and after that the methodologies tools and
technologies required for implementing the network. Then the report ends with observations
in concluding notes.

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Problem Situation.......................................................................................................................3
Challenges and Complexities.....................................................................................................3
Methodologies, tools and techniques.........................................................................................5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................7
References..................................................................................................................................9

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NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK INTRODUCTION
Introduction
In today’s digitally advanced societies and smart cities the importance of internet services is
growing especially in availing the various facilities and amenities. Hence fast universal
broadband network plans are staring to play an important role. The report hence discusses the
associated problems, the challenges and complexities involved as also tools and
methodologies required for implementing such a network (Süßspeck, Campbell and Hinton
2018). The report starts by identifying the key problem which is to finalize on how fast a
connection should the network offer to the end users and should decide with the cabling and
other networking equipment accordingly. Thereafter the report proceeds to present
thoroughly the corresponding challenges and after that the methodologies tools and
technologies required for implementing the network. Then the report ends with observations
in concluding notes.
Problem Situation
In implementing national broadband networks the decision on the cabling involved
and installing them is a real problem. If the entire network architecture is to be based upon
fibre optic cables then the cost of the plans, tariffs also shoot up making it less affordable for
the end user. Also most of the time the speed that fibre based cables can offer are not met due
to branching and other inefficiencies in the network architecture as can be noticed from the
national broadband project of Australia (Schram et al., 2018). Also critical for such a project
is to identify the right capacity required to serve the intended users. This is the reason why it
is important to make sure that the resultant network architecture is efficiently designed and
can operate effectively.

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NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK INTRODUCTION
Challenges and Complexities
The key challenges and complexities faced by authorities in introducing the national
broadband network are scheduling of timeframes for deploying the network architecture
along with budgeting and relying on data (Ashmore, Farrington and Skerratt 2017). The
implementation requires proper summarization of the network architecture and to clearly
identify the customer requirements. Before introducing the network it is a must to address the
issues associated with land acquisition and the availability of skilled workers.
Moreover, the companies that operate the national broadband network can either
provide an active shared or passive shared national fibre network which presents an
interesting challenge as it requires the providers to serve a consistent sustainable demand
(Alizadeh, T., 2015). The deployment of the national broadband network may not always
manage the incumbent well enough. Therefore before any effective role is identified for this
incumbent, it can give rise to conflicts between the national broadband network and the
incumbent.
Another challenge is to decide on whether to replace all the copper wiring with fibre
optic cables or reuse the last mile. If the decisions taken are based on the idea of placing fibre
optic cables in every location instead of planning a realistic implementation of the network,
the plans offered can become unaffordable for well-structured businesses that attempt in
minimizing costs as well as end users for whom the speeds and bandwidth offered by mixed
wired networks are mostly acceptable.
Other than that it is expected that new broadband companies trying to implement a
national broadband network project should have a process driven structure with transparent
authorities who understands the domain and can be held accountable for losses (Mayer,
Madden and Wu 2019). It needs to be a thriving young start-up which should capture the

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NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK INTRODUCTION
dedication and enthusiasm of the employees involved. But like most cases national
broadband network projects are typically government ventures and can therefore suffer
repeatedly from bureaucratic deadlocks or get stuck in clearance of funds.
Lastly to add to the above mentioned complexities were the gross miscalculations that
were done resulting in overestimation of the extent to which reuse of current infrastructure
were needed (Choi et al. 2016). As a result it is imperative that thorough planning and careful
consideration of the environment and the resources involved in the project is done to ensure
all of these challenges are addressed and the project becomes sustainable and successful.
Methodologies, tools and techniques
To implement the national broadband networks, it is required to first have a business
plan created which should consist of the requirement specifications for the network (Miller et
al, 2018). It is based on these requirements that a conceptualization of the network is to be
form to help proceed with the network design. The engineering analysis of the network helps
in identifying the hardware equipment required for the network (Levin 2016). One key aspect
of the network infrastructure will be identifying the assets as well as the facilities required to
be developed or owned. These assets can include the following:
Conduit: Broadband providers responsible for distributing network access packages to end
users should have access to the government owned conduits.
Fibre cables: These fibre optic cables should be obtained from leading cable manufacturers
or via government owned distribution units known to supply such cables.
Hardware and power generation facilities: It is important that the broadband providers
sign agreements to share the associated hardware and power generation facilities as this can
help the providers of particular regions affected by natural disasters in quickly recovering
from the said calamity.

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Real estate: These are the land areas that are provided by the governments to the broadband
providers for setting up the network operating centre, satellite dishes and antennas, hubs,
network towers among others.
Poles: These constitute the poles of power lines, traffic lights and utility poles as media for
distributing fibre cables to the intended location.
Public structures: These are part of the homes of users offered to the broadband providers
so that they can house necessary infrastructure equipment for operating the network (Oughton
et al. 2018). Sometimes even the local governments offer spaces like rooftops of public
institutions or government offices.
Wholesale and retail service providers: These providers ensure that adequate network
capacity is duly provided to the end users. The wholesale providers can be the original
network operator while the retail providers can include the libraries, local businesses,
restaurants, shopping malls and hospitals.
Interconnection: The network operators should be sharing interconnection with the
concerned parties and provide wholesale broadband service and capacity at affordable rates.
These parties are generally allowed to house the necessary equipment with network owner in
isolated secure locations.
Network Termination Devices: These are the interface devices that are installed in the
customer side for enabling the network access (Di Paolo, 2018). These network termination
devices can be of different types depending on the type of network implementation and the
hardware equipment used. The various types of these device are – FTTP, FTTN, FTTC, HFC,
Fixed wireless, Satellite.

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NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK INTRODUCTION
FTTP or Fibre to the Premises connects through the Ethernet via the GPON network
or gigabit passive optical network. It is the preferred technological solution in national
broadband networks with uses for replacement connections.
FTTN or Fibre to the Node refer to premises where traditional copper connections can
be maintained with existing plugs in use. These plugs can include RJ45 (8C8C) and UNI-D.
End users will be accessing their network using VDSL2 modems provided by the internet
service provider. Voice based services are made available through the VOIP technology are
enable by supported modems.
FTTC or Fibre to curb was previously known as fibre to distribution point. Every
access to these networks occur via copper connecting wires for which existing telephone
cables are used. FTTC connection devices in national broadband networks provide Ethernet
ports to the respective routers for enabling the connection (Mazzenga, Giuliano and Vatalaro
2017). In FTTC networks, optical fibre cables are present close to homes and businesses,
which get connected using short copper wires from the distribution point unit located near the
property like on the adjoining street.
Hybrid fibre coaxial is a legacy technology used to implement national broadband
network. These are provided by the organizations Telstra and Optus out of which the Telstra
network is being maintained as the Optus network is increasingly becoming uneconomic.
Here, network access is provided by cable modems and using VOIP telephony services is
provided by the ISP.
Other technologies like fixed wireless can include services like 4G LTE and 5G
services (Merwaday and Guvenc 2015). Satellite services however, enable network through
dishes and antennas and holds the advantage to provide network access to areas out of reach
for other modes.

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NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK INTRODUCTION
Conclusion
In conclusion, the report succeeds in highlighting the importance of internet services
in availing the various facilities and amenities. Thus the report observes that fast universal
broadband network plans are starting to play an important role. The report hence discusses
the associated problems, the challenges and complexities involved as also tools and
methodologies required for implementing such a network. The report starts by identifying the
key problem which is to finalize on how fast a connection should the network offer to the end
users and should decide with the cabling and other networking equipment accordingly.
Thereafter the report proceeds to present thoroughly the corresponding challenges and after
that the report finishes by describing the methodologies tools and technologies required for
implementing the network.

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NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK INTRODUCTION
References
Alizadeh, T., 2015. The spatial justice implications of telecommunication infrastructure: The
socio-economic status of early National Broadband Network rollout in
Australia. International journal of critical infrastructures, 11(3), pp.278-296.
Ashmore, F.H., Farrington, J.H. and Skerratt, S., 2017. Community-led broadband in rural
digital infrastructure development: Implications for resilience. Journal of Rural Studies, 54,
pp.408-425.
Choi, S.M., Wong, S.F., Chang, Y. and Park, M.C., 2016. Analysis of the dynamic broadband
technology competition: implications for national information infrastructure
development. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 116(6), pp.1223-1241.
Di Paolo, F., 2018. Networks and devices using planar transmissions lines. CRC Press.
Levin, B., 2016. Achieving Bandwidth Abundance: The Three Policy Levers for Intensifying
Broadband Competition. Fed. Comm. LJ, 68, p.397.
Mayer, W., Madden, G. and Wu, C., 2019. Broadband and economic growth: a
reassessment. Information Technology for Development, pp.1-18.
Mazzenga, F., Giuliano, R. and Vatalaro, F., 2017. FttC-based fronthaul for 5G dense/ultra-
dense access network: Performance and costs in realistic scenarios. Future Internet, 9(4),
p.71.
Merwaday, A. and Guvenc, I., 2015, March. UAV assisted heterogeneous networks for
public safety communications. In 2015 IEEE wireless communications and networking
conference workshops (WCNCW) (pp. 329-334). IEEE.

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NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK INTRODUCTION
Miller, A., Kowalski, S., Nagaraj, A., Jennings, J. and Jones, S., 2016. Pathway to Ubiquitous
Broadband: Environments, Policies, and Technologies to Implementation Josh Winn
Matthew Burch.
Oughton, E.J., Frias, Z., Dohler, M., Whalley, J., Sicker, D., Hall, J.W., Crowcroft, J. and
Cleevely, D.D., 2018. The strategic national infrastructure assessment of digital
communications. Digital Policy, Regulation and Governance, 20(3), pp.197-210.
Schram, A., Friel, S., Freeman, T., Fisher, M., Baum, F. and Harris, P., 2018. Digital
Infrastructure as a Determinant of Health Equity: An Australian Case Study of the
Implementation of the National Broadband Network. Australian Journal of Public
Administration, 77(4), pp.829-842.
Süßspeck, S., Campbell, L.H. and Hinton, K., 2018. The national broadband network: What
difference will it make to broadband availability in Australia?. Australian Journal of
Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, 6(1), p.1.