[H-GEN] Telstra Bigpond Cable

[Steven McIntyre]

[ Humbug *General* list - semi-serious discussions about Humbug and
Unix-related topics. ]


> Wait for Optus cable -- even if it isn't better, it'll provide competition.  
> And I seriously doubt it could be worse.  Tel$tra are still trying to force 
> ISDN on everyone, and are dragging their heels for good cable and DSL.

[  I emphasize here that I do not work for Optus nor do I have anything
else to do with Optus.  I'm just a very disgruntled Tel$tra customer! ]

  I second this, wait for the competition.  Optus are following
the DOCSIS standard which has been internationally agreed upon.  In theory
you can use one of their cable modems with any other cable modem
provider that uses this standard.  Tel$tra decided to launch their
cable modem service before this standard was finalised (back in 1996).

  Whether Optus offers a "better" service or not who knows.
  Based on the information I've been able to scrounge up so far, after
discussing this with Optus in Sydney I was told the following:

  - they plan a product launch for Bris/Syd/Melb before xmas this year
  - no costing information available
  - no official support for Linux, but who I spoke to assured me he
    had it operating with 2.2.12 Redhat with little difficulty
  - Optus went out of their way to convince me that they will not
    do any "deals" with Micro$oft, and their product will operate on
    a variety of platforms.  Apparently Optus use Macs???
  - Possibility that traffic to the Optus backbone won't be charged. 
    (No definite answers on this one, but I told them I won't be interested
     in the product if I have to pay through the roof to reach
     mirror.aarnet)
  - Optus have done a "deal" with Excite at Home which is an American
    company.  The service being provided in some parts of the USA is
    flat rate (approx US$49).  Upload speeds are restricted to 128Kb/sec.
  - Optus plans to offer discounts for customers who already have their
    Pay-TV and/or local telephony phone products (which I'm one of).

  I have no idea what costs are involved in installation, nor what
  restrictions apply on the service.  It appears companies have
  a problem with Linux in that you can run your own services and bypass
  them, taking money away from them.  From what I remember the 
  Tel$tra/Foxtel cable modem agreement was very lengthy and required
  you to agree you would not run such services?

  My conclusion is wait, and find out what Optus will offer before
  agreeing to anything.  In the worst case you just tell both you
  aren't interested - once competition starts you would think the
  price will come down.

  Steven McIntyre
  stev at uq.net.au
  (n2408775 at sparrow.fit.qut.edu.au)
  3rd Year, Info. Tech - QUT (Gardens Point), Brisbane
  Majoring in Comp. Sci and Data Comms.


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