OECD pipes up with NBN guidelines

The fact is the critics have not found it easy to pick holes in what was arguably just about the only strategy available to the government after Telstra had submitted its non-compliant bid.

The issues surrounding any NBN roll-out - and there are a number happening around the world - are not unique to each, even though some local tweaking is required.

Almost on cue, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a global think tank on economics and policy, has released a report highlighting the best approaches to public sector investment in such infrastructure.

It's heavy, reading but Australia’s IT News has done most of the hard work by selecting key areas that the report addressed and applied them to Australia's NBN process, with some surprising results.

The key areas compared were:

• Government broadband investment stimulates demand in flat economies
• NBN's should be built on 'Open Access' principles
• Public networks should cater for private investment
• Start with small wins
• Cost-benefit analysis required
• Governments should not be network operators
• The private sector should handle the last mile
• Governments should not restrict private competition
• Governments should allocate digital dividend to mobile broadband

(via IT News)

Other countries about to embark on their own NBN exercise will have the benefit of both the OECD guidelines and the well-publicized experiences of the countries that have already made the move.

There is no doubt that this is an opportune time not only to build such networks and take advantage of the availability of skills and materials during the downturn but also for the potential economic stimulation such a high capital investment might achieve. TP