TUANZ blogs quite often generate a fair amount of debate from readers who are always eager to share their thoughts and opinions about the topics or issues raised in the blog, and sometimes to simply point out some horrid typo.
Occasionally these threads develop a life of their own as back and forth salvos start flying between commentators. A great example of is a robust debate between two opposing camps – Paul Brislen of Vodafone and Tex Edwards of NZ Communications, that has spanned three recent blog posts and has attracted the attention of the eagle-eyed reporters at Computerworld.
The comments make for interesting reading as they reveal much about each party’s view on important issues such as mobile termination rates and the future of broadband – both fixed and mobile – in New Zealand.
Brislen, Edwards and a third poster, identified only as Alan, share insightful thoughts on the Castalia Report and the Government’s $1.5 billion fibre-to-the-home ambitions in a comment thread to this blog: “Three carriers challenge government's fibre plans”.
Brislen preambles the discussion by stating the idea behind the report “was to stimulate an actual discussion about this, given the lack of concrete analysis to date”.
He argues a FTTH deployment could cost to $6 billion and therefore he would like to see some debate about on what that money is spent on. “If it was me, I'd be looking at a Southern Cross Cable equivalent first.”
Is response, Alan says the county needs “to future proof 21st technology not a 20th century copper network that is well past it's use by date”.
From here the pair wrangle over feeds, speeds and bandwidth issues with Brislen stating fibre is not the only answer, adding New Zealand should consider all alternatives: “LTE, fixed wireless, satellite, ADSL2+, VDSL2...”
Edwards then weighs in saying the report proves the case for ongoing regulation. “When Telecom’s lawyers are calling for a review of the ComCom, this report illustrates the need for ongoing regulatory vigilance.”
However, the most flared debate between Edwards and Brislen is over MTRs is response to this blog: “Mobile Train Robbery, Vodafone's statistics, and good news ahead”.
The pair shares various stats and opinions on how New Zealand mobile phone rates compare internationally and how MTRs play a role in this. This discussion is too complex to abbreviate here, so I invite you check it out at the bottom of the blog, as it makes for educational, and at times entertaining, reading.
There is another interesting exchange between pair over Vodafone’s investment locally following this blog: “Mission accomplished for Vodafone 3G - well almost”.
Happy reading!