2008-05-05 ABC Radio (Southern Tasmania) Interview

Listen to the interview here:

(Audio courtesy of Mark Smith)

Interview Transcript - ABC 936 Drive with Louise Saunders, 5th May 2008

Louise Saunders (LS): There’s some concern that’s been expressed through a gathering of likeminded people with business and entrepreneurial interests in Tasmania about the lack of diversity and hence competition in the provision of ADSL2 services in Tasmania, and they are looking to the government to make more, to take greater advantage perhaps, of its Basslink contract which would enable ISP services to come into the state through other providers other than Telstra.

Andrew Connor is a spokesman for the group called Digital Tasmania; Andrew, good afternoon.

Andrew Connor (AC): Good afternoon Louise.

LS: What’s the current situation with high speed broadband access, ADSL2, around Tasmania?

AC: Well we’ve got very limited choices at the moment. There’s only what’s provided by the incumbent operator and just a couple of internet providers in Hobart. So we really don’t have much choice. We could be opened up to a major degree if the state government would activate the fibre optic cables that were laid with the Basslink cable, and as well the gas pipeline between Hobart, Georgetown and Burnie.

LS: Do you believe that this is having a cost effect - are people essentially having to pay more through a lack of competition?

AC: Certainly, yes. If you’re in a mainland capital city, you’ve got a far greater choice of services, and you’re getting much better value for your money there and a faster service with a greater download allowance.

So we’re really losing out in Tasmania, to the point where some ISPs have found it so difficult and so expensive to provide a service here that they’ve curtailed some of the services they provide in Tasmania.

LS: For business use, how great is the difference between ADSL2 and ADSL1?

AC: Well the difference between being able to provide a basic web service to your clients and then video conferencing between them and someone on the mainland or internationally, so that they don’t have to fly down to Tasmania. They’re missing out on those kinds of opportunities of video conferencing for example.

LS: Now, the situation in Hobart, you say two exchanges have services available through other providers, what about in the rest of the state, is there anything?

AC: Well I’m afraid there’s not much choice elsewhere, there’s a couple of wireless broadband operators, particularly in Burnie, but I’m afraid we’re stuck at the moment.

LS: How easy would it be, do you believe, for the state government to take advantage of its contract that enables it access to the fibre optic cable?

AC: Well technically the system should be operational now. Those cables have been in the ground, and underwater for five years now. Just to illustrate a company plans to build a cable from Sydney to Guam, that’s about 7,000 kilometres, they’re about six months into that and they believe they’ll have that running in 18 months from now. So it’s hard to believe that this government can’t get the cable running after five years now.

LS: Do you believe that there are providers interstate who will be interested in Tasmania, that there is the breadth of custom available to them to join in a competition if they were able to get access through Basslink?

AC: Well I think there is. There’s already a level of competition provided through wholesaling of the incumbent’s services, but some of them have decided never to service Tasmania, such as Optus. But should capacity, competitive capacity, across Bass Strait become available, Optus may be encouraged to provide their (Broadband) services here in Tasmania.

LS: The group itself, how did it come about, is it likeminded people, having a bit of a, a whinge I guess it starts with, doesn’t it?

AC: Well, pretty much. It’s been going on for a couple of years now, but we’ve decided to do something constructive about it, get together, and put our voice out there, just so we can get the best result for all Tasmanians.

LS: Are we really that far behind the rest of the country, when it comes to the provision of Internet and broadband services?

AC: Pretty much, yes. In the mainland capitals, you’ve got a choice of up to seven or eight other operators, other ADSL providers in some exchange areas, but here, we’ve just got no choice at all. Not just with fixed line, which is ADSL, but many wireless services are available in the mainland capital cities, that give you that flexibility and choice.

LS: If people are interested, can they make contact with Digital Tasmania?

AC: Yep, they can find us through our website, which is digitaltasmania, that’s all one word, dot org.

LS: OK. Well, we’ll see whether it does change, being someone who’s recently connected myself, but only on a domestic level, I was a bit surprised to find out who doesn’t provide services down here even, at that level.

Andrew, thanks for your time.

Thankyou Andrew Connor, of Digital Tasmania, it’s digitaltasmania dot org.