Should the NBN go further?

Do remember that the NBN does provide back-haul facalities from the more remote towns either via fibre or satelite. This backhaul capacity could then be used by mobile providers to install either the curent 3G or 4G base stations that mobile travellers could use.

As for cost of providing these facilities, as they are provided by commercial operators then the installation of the basestations would need to be supported by a business case that ensure the shareholders of the providers get a suitble return on the investment. Alternatively they would need to be government supported.

Alternatively there is nothing to stop other providers installing WiFi services, either free or paid using the NBN backhaul facility to install access points. But remember that WiFi does have a limited range from the access point, usually around 100 meters or so.

Since we are talking about communication in remote and rural areas I will add my three penneth worth.
Having recently spent two months exploring the WA coast specifically Fourteen Mile and Ningaloo Station and other spots as far a Exmouth where most camping is about two metres above sea level.
The combined total of people doing the same along the coast would conservatively exceed three thousand people.
I occurred to me that if a Tsunami warning was issued (according to the Tsuanami early warning website, this area of the coast will be most affected and we have spent millions of dollars to establish the warning equipment) who and how are we to be notified of an impending danger.
Communication along this coast does not exist.
The only radio is a scratchy ABC station if you are lucky.
Good luck with the NBN.
Cheers
Stan

I think you will find the whole NBN thing is focused on fixed locations.

Telstras original rejected NBN bid was to deliver it via the nextG celualr wireless system..the government rejected this in favour of a predominantly fibre optic bassed system with some satilite in areas that fibre will not reach.

Now my brother has a satelite broadband connection on his shed, courtesy of the beuro of statistics...because the sisterinlaw does work for them......ya not going to thow a dish like that on a caravan......getting signal down from a satelite like with satelate TV is one thing....squirting it back the otherway is a whole other deal and the dish is a lot bigger and more critical to aim.

SO...don't waste your breath to get NBN consideration in your caravan, ya best option for quite some time will be wireless broadband, with 4G if you can get coverage it may well be faster than some peoples ADSL.

BTW I have a client in West End ( brisbane) one of the first areas in the NBN roll out..and it has been a right royal PITA for them...one hopes the installation & cutover in the rest of the country is not that painfull.

cheers

To answer your very first question; no we do not want it on our travels.

I don't even take my mobile phone with me. We go out back to see the place and get away from all the "muck" in the city.

But knowing how things are going it's a wonder that the greater majority don't come down with some kind of "internet loss" disorder when they go away. The new disease ILD - Internet Loss Disoder.

Not fighting it, just do not want it.

I would also hazard a guess that if anyone wants internet access from their van now, then all they have to do is get a "huge" satellite dish and hook up via the satellite. I have a feeling that it wouldn't be very mobile though. But it will get smaller. My first mobile phone was just small enough to fit in my briefcase. A mate in the back blocks of Victoria has had satellite internet for years.

Phil