Assignment 1: NBN Technology and Comparison Report - ME503

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the National Broadband Network (NBN) in Australia. It details the various technologies and infrastructure used, including Fibre to the Premises (FTTP), Fibre to the Building (FTTB), Fibre to the Node (FTTN), Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC), and Fixed Wireless (FW). The report highlights the benefits of NBN, such as stronger connections, faster service, and smarter ways to work and receive healthcare. It also addresses the disadvantages, including criticisms of the rollout and cost. Furthermore, the report compares the NBN to New Zealand's broadband initiatives, specifically the Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) and Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI), discussing their respective costs and approaches. The report concludes by referencing relevant sources to support the information presented.

What’s national broadband network?
The broadband network NBN is a network in Australia’s new. It’s designed to provide the
Australians with access to all the benefits of fast and reliable internet services, wherever they
live. [1]
The National broadband network technology and infrasturure
The nbn, is trying to take advantage of the infrastructure that already exists in an attempt to
speed up the process. This means that different locations have different technologies as follows;
Fibre to the Premises (FTTP)
The Fibre optic cable delivers phone and internet to the home or the business premises [2]
Fibre to the Building (FTTB)
The Fibre optic cable runs to a building, then existing copper cables within the building runs to
the unit or apartment. There is no internal nbn equipment is required
[3]Fibre optic cable runs to central location (node) then uses existing copper lines to a particular
home or business. With this infrastructure there’s is no nbn equipment inside y [2]our house is
required.
Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC)
[5]The Fibre optic cable runs to a fibre node in the nearby street, then coaxial cables run to the
given particular home or business.
Fixed Wireless (FW)
A local nbn Fixed Wireless tower sends a signal to a fixed antenna attached outside the
premises, then internal wiring runs to the nbn Connection Box inside the home /house. [5]
Benefits
The NBN has enabled all the Australians to be connected to a network with [7]

Stronger connections
A speedier service means you might be able to enjoy high-quality video calls with far-away
friends and loved ones, or dial into an important meeting without dropping out or freezing. [6]
Smarter ways to work
Studying or working from home could get a whole lot easier, with faster access to online tools
and the ability to download and upload large attachments in a flash.
Better healthcare
A faster service could mean that doctors and nurses will be able to conduct routine health
consultations using video conferencing and other online communication tools.
Disadvantages
There is no doubt Labor's NBN would have sold for more, improving the return for taxpayers.
[8]
Delayance by the NBN rollout led to negative criticism and media coverage
A more substantial criticism is that Labor's NBN rollout lacked any market discipline.
b. comparison of the NBN and New Zealand [8]
New Zealand The approach has been spearheaded by two initiatives: The Ultra-Fast Broadband
(UFB) initiative and the Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI). [10]
While Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN) will cost around $36 billion, New
Zealand's UFB is considerably less, with the government investing NZ$1.5 billion (A$1.2
billion), managed by Crown Fibre Holdings (CFH). Private investment is also expected to make
up some of the funding, but it is still unclear what role it will play.
Unlike NBN Co, which has stated the NBN is being built for the public good and not to
maximize profit, CFH has stated it will provide a commercial return on the Crown’s investment.

The UFB would also be operated as a business under the direction of the government’s ministers
and the minister for communications and information technology.

References
[1] Asia-Pacific Telecom Monthly Newsletter June 2010, Information Gatekeepers Inc, 2010.
[2] N. G. Herbert Venghaus, Fibre Optic Communication: Key Devices, London: Springer Science &
Business Media, 2012.
[3] L. A. Ims, Broadband Access Networks, London: Springer Science & Business Media, , 2012.
[4] European Telecom Monthly Newsletter June 2010, Information Gatekeepers Inc, 2010.
[5] E. Tunmann, Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC), CRC press, 1995.
[6] Y. K. Dwivedi, Handbook of Research on Global Diffusion of Broadband Data Transmission, IGI
Global, 2008.
[7] D. D. C. M. C. M. W. Stephen Robbins, Management: the Essentials, Pearson Higher Education AU,
2013.
[8] . Q. Emily Broas, Making Stronger Connections: A Practical Guide for Cities to Promote Broadband
Equity, Harvard University, 2018.
[9] P. Manning, Born to Rule, Melbourne University Press, 2015.
[10] B. Slot, Abel Tasman and the discovery of New Zealand, O. Cramwinckel, 1992.
[11] S. M. (Computerworld), "NBN vs. the world: The New Zealand experience," Computerworld, 06 july
2012. [Online]. Available:
https://www.computerworld.com.au/article/429756/nbn_vs_world_new_zealand_experience/.
[Accessed 24 april 2019].
[12] T. K. S. R. Yongsoo Kim, Building Broadband: Strategies and Policies for the Developing World,
World Bank Publications, 2010.