For many people within our region the only way they can get good reliable access to the Internet is via satellite. However, if you think this is a localised problem you would be wrong. Even our nearest neighbours New Zealand, and even in parts of the USA, satellite is the only option. In the early days we did not know that much about satellite broadband, but those who opted for this service are extremely pleased. However, with so many people now using satellite it has become a little slow and this is true for New Zealand and USA users alike. The good news is satellite providers are now upgrading their technology and adding new services like VoIP. For example, IPStar the owners of the satellite which provides Broadband Internet Access through their distributors ACTIV8Me, Gobush and others, will in a few months, be trialling WebTV. Also, using the same broadband satellite dish, IPStar will be offering a new PayTV service similar to Foxtel and Austar, but with different content. If all goes as expected, Mr Teerasak (Ted) Sawekpun General Manager IPStar Australia stated he hopes to have all three services (VoIP, WebTV and PayTV) up and running by the end of this year.  

In Australia, there has been a lot said (little done) about a FFON (Fast Fibre Optic Network). Some have even stated that with the roll-out of a FFON Australia would be able to take fully advantage of what the Internet can currently provide, and what it’s likely to provide if Internet2 comes to fruition. However, the cost of linking homes and other buildings directly to the FFON would be prohibitive. To  complicate matters further wireless technologies (G3/G4, WiMAX) that can cover areas of upwards of 200kms or more have been or are about to be implemented.

As you can see there are today many competing technologies that are capable of providing fast Broadband Internet Services, but at this time, not one technology can provide a complete solution. It is starting to become more and more apparent that Australia’s answer to better and faster Internet Services will most likely be a combination of technologies. Some of you may not be young enough to remember that when Modems were first used in Australia (mainly by government departments and hospitals) their maximum speed was around 300bps. However, my first modem operated at 2400bps and cost around $1,000 and to get it to work meant configuring a set of six (6) toggle-switches and eight (8) dip-switches. How times have changed!