Microsoft urges NBN review to reconsider high-speed fibre
Microsoft's managing director wants the NBN to be as fast as possible and much prefers the previous Labor government's fibre-to-the-premises plan over the Liberal Party's cut-down fibre to the node.
Microsoft's managing director wants the NBN to be as fast as possible and much prefers the previous Labor government's fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) plan over the Liberal Party's cut-down fibre to the node (FTTN).
Pip Marlow, Microsoft's managing director, has told AAP that the Abbott government should rethink its existing plan to cut the FTTP roll-out in favour of a largely FTTN scheme.
The recently elected Liberal government's strategic review of the NBN will determine a new scheme to roll the network out more quickly and for a lower cost, likely by transitioning away from the more expensive FTTP.
Locating local internet providers
Previous statements from the current Minister for Communications, Malcolm Turnbull, suggest that a mix of optical fibre, hybrid fibre-coaxial (as used in Telstra and Optus' cable internet networks) and copper will be the likely outcome of the review.
But Microsoft is adding its voice to the groundswell of support for fibre to the premises. Speaking to AAP at a Committee for Economic Development of Australia event on Wednesday, Microsoft's Australian head Pip Marlow said that FTTP was the most appropriate solution: "Ultimately, if you don't get fibre to the home, the biggest impact really is the upload speeds."
Locating local internet providers
"We're encouraging the government to be looking at all the options and really understanding how businesses, how schools, how individuals will be using this technology. We think that needs to be looked at," she said.
The strategic review of the NBN will be completed within a month, slated to be delivered on December 2.