mobile
Changing business models n Australia and the Cook Islands
This paper is for telecoms operators and regulators who are trying to understand how business models for telecommunications have evolved and what this means for them today. It draws on the author’s forty years of experience in Australia and applies it to the specific case of the Cook Islands.
A close friend of mine made some very flattering remarks about this paper:
“It’s the first time I’ve read an article with such a holistic and succinct overview of the evolution of telecommunications and the impact of global digitisation on telecoms operating companies providing transport and delivery infrastructures”. Richard Wiatr is a former senior executive and telecoms engineer who has spent 40 years in the industry.
Some operators are currently looking to regulators to fix the loss of revenues from the move into the digital era. This paper puts the issue into perspective and suggests what they should be doing.
Who will blink first on NBN pricing?
The showdown on NBN CVC pricing has been a long time coming. The NBN bestowed an extra 40% of CVC capacity to make lockdown due to COVID-19 more bearable. But it is only temporary. The ending of the 40% uplift inserts a decisive event into what was previously a slow boil. At a time when retail margins are becoming exhausted, something has to give.
Co-authored with Bob James and publishedin Comms Day. read it here Who will blink first on NBN pricing
2018 Review of Retail Broadband Prices
The review of September 2018 prices shows that there has not been much movement on the major issues identified with retail broadband prices:
1. Lack of affordable entry-level prices – this is still an issue despite the new NBN Entry Level Bundle; but too recent to be reflected in the results discussed here.
2. Poor take-up of high speeds – slightly better thanks to new High Capacity Bundles.
3. Increasing pressure on ISP margins due to CVC pricing (leading to under-provisioning) – still true, with full impacts felt when the migration to NBN ends.
4. The growing threat (to the NBN) of increasingly competitive mobile broadband – no change.
More details at Economuse 2018-10-04
SafetyNet – Beyond Mobile Roaming
Rural and remote areas will continue to struggle to keep up with urban telecommunications despite the progress that has been made with initiatives such as the Mobile Black Spot Program (MBSP) and the NBN fixed wireless and satellite. A more radical approach is needed as we consider updating the Universal Service Obligation, public safety network options and mobile roaming. Instead of more expensive small gains at the margin, or counter productive roaming arrangements, we should take a large step forward by having the Commonwealth, States and MNOs work together.
To read more, click Economuse 2017-2-03-safety net
SafetyNet
I have had the good fortune to work with Bob James (we developed the TransAct NBN Mark I business case) and Robin Eckermann (the Australian father of FTTN – 10 years ahead of the Commonwealth).
We have developed the idea attached; which could be a game changer for rural and remote customers. The concept is novel but not rocket science. Aceptance and execution will be tricky.