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NBN Co feels out fair
use rules for long-term
satellite
NBN Co has outlined the
proposed product
construct for its
long-term satellite
solution in a new
consultation paper –
notably including a fair
use policy, based on
some of the challenges
the firm encountered
with its short-term
offering.
The interim satellite
service was put in place
to help cover remote and
regional areas beyond
the reach of NBN Co’s
planned fixed-line and
fixed wireless
footprint, using
capacity provided by
Optus and IPStar as a
stopgap measure while
NBN Co worked towards
the launch of its own
satellites for the
long-term solution.
However, high demand
obliged NBN Co to stop
accepting registrations
for new services in
December last year,
causing some
consternation amongst
retail service
providers. In March this
year, communications
minister Malcolm
Turnbull announced that
NBN Co would implement a
“new, stringent fair use
policy to ensure a
minority of very heavy
users cannot crowd out
the majority.”
Now, NBN Co has outlined
its proposed LTSS
product construct
through its Product
Development Forum – with
a similar fair use
policy already in place.
“The default product
offering is designed to
allow retail service
providers to offer plans
that will support an
unprecedented 12/1Mbps
or 25/5Mbps service
speed options. LTS is
expected to allow an
end-user to have a
broadband service that
supports the use of the
most common applications
including emails, web
browsing the web, and
VoIP services such as
Skype along with the
occasional video
download. The actual
amount of video
downloads will be
dependent on the actual
retail plan,” said NBN
Co. “The default product
construct allows a
wholesale price of $27
for a peak 25/5Mbps
service supporting a
typical 20GB plan per
month and maximum of 75
GB (per 4 week rolling
week) . However,
consistent with other
similar satellite
networks, end user
expectation should be
set that LTS will only
permit sporadic
streaming HDTV or
peer-to-peer file
sharing within the
limits of an appropriate
retail plan.”
““Large downloads should
be encouraged to occur
during off-peak
periods... the product
construct, however, will
allow options for RSPs
to offer more plans but
at a higher cost.”
“The new Fair Use
Policy.... will help
ensure the LTSS is
consistent and reliable,
avoiding instances where
a small number of high
volume users can cause
capacity constraints for
other users,” said NBN
Co fixed wireless and
satellite GM Gavin
Williams. “This capacity
management approach is
consistent with the
findings of the Fixed
Wireless and Satellite
Review.”
“The LTSS product,
however, tries to leave
a lot of flexibility in
the management of
capacity to RSPs – for
example it will also
promote innovation by
allowing RSPs to decide
how they will offer peak
and off-peak usage
allowances. This will
encourage RSPs to
identify different ways
to use available
capacity in off-peak
periods and enable
larger capacity plans,
for example, up to 75GB
for a basic service.”
Petroc Wilton, Commsday
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