After being forced onto NBN to get the same speed service for a higher price a few years ago, I’ve looked at using mobile phone (4G and 5G) data services instead. Faster services are available for a lower price to people in other states, but not yet at my location. However, I see that NBN Co has been lobbying to make these services less competitive by introducing a “tax” on them to be paid to NBN.
ACCC shifts support for broadband tax on 4G and 5G fixed wireless - Telco/ISP - iTnews
NBN has a universal service obligation to provide the comms service that Telstra once had. NBN is a Gov organization, as was Telstra originally.
They have to provide comms to remote locations that the other comms businesses can’t be bothered with, using satellite, and fixed wireless. So who pays? The taxpayer? Or the industry as a whole can chip in some money?
Re the universal service issue
I just read that article (30 July 2024) with interest. I moved from ADSL+ to Vivid Wireless mid 2017 - and realised it was just a 4G SIM card in a wifi modem. I went to a Vodaphone store and asked if I could hotspot my phone to my PC; and they were aghast I would “burn up” my phone! Come December 2017 I dropped the fixed wireless 4G and hot spotted my phone to my PC at home, having a 100Gb allowance. Fast forward to October 2024 and same handset, same data plan, no NBN and no “fixed wireless” for a fraction of a fixed connection cost. The speed now on 5G is similar if not what you would get on broadband and I can doomscroll the news on my phone when I am commuting too.
2 Likes
