TUANZ

Search website

Home > Blogs > Downstream

Posted Wed 31 December 2008 @ 9:03 p.m. by Ernie

It made my new year's eve to see that Paul Swain, former Minister of Communications, has scored a QSM in the New Year Honours.Politics aside, most people agree that telecommunications was one element of the economy that the previous government handled with great distinction. A lot of the kudos has gone to the more flamboyant David Cunliffe who finished the job, but we should not forget that it was Swain who started it.Swain was a quiet achiever. He did his homework, made the hard calls,...

Comments (1)

A historic day for telecommunications!

Posted Wed 10 December 2008 @ 1:23 p.m. by Ernie

This is a special blog. It is the first one I have ever posted over a Fibre to the Farm connection. Just maybe, it is the first blog ever posted across a FTTH connection in New Zealand? This farm’s connection is only a day or two old.Here today at Mangamaire, telecommunications history has been made with the official launch of fibre to Mangamaire School, together with a small but rapidly increasing number of homes and farms in the area.Mangamaire, for those who don’t know, is best described as an...

Comments (4)

Barack plans to boost broadband adoption

Posted Wed 10 December 2008 @ 11:29 a.m. by Louis

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key is in good company believing that better broadband can be a stimulus for economic development. United States President-elect Barack Obama has included broadband roll-out as part of a massive economic recovery package he is proposing. Obama plans to push for the largest government-funded infrastructure programme the US has seen since the construction of the interstate highway system in the 1950s as a way to stimulate the struggling US economy. The programme...

Comments (1)

Maori Technology Hui - Inspired Timing!

Posted Wed 3 December 2008 @ 12:17 p.m. by Ernie

I've spent the morning giving the opening presentation at a Maori Technology Hui here in Wellington, organised by the Te Huarahi Tika Trust. There was a great crowd - I'd guess around 80 people, standing room only, with an excellent programme. It occurred to me that despite having given oodles of presentations over the years this was the first time I had ever presented to a specifically Maori audience. Slightly daunting.The organisers had asked me to set the scene, so my presentation covered off...

Comments (2)

A millimetre too close for comfort

Posted Fri 21 November 2008 @ 2:53 p.m. by Louis

Sometimes the simple laws of physics can cause great technological innovations to come unstuck. A great example of this was London’s Millennium Bridge, which while a technical masterpiece resonated so well with its users it started swaying in synch with their footsteps as they walked across it. Another example I experienced this week. As I may have mentioned I enjoy technology – I’m not a gadget geek as such, but I like getting my hands on new techy stuff. Therefore I was rather excited to receive...

Categories: Education | Innovation | Light relief | Regulatory | Vendors

Comments (3)

Let the ramblings begin…

Posted Mon 10 November 2008 @ 4:33 p.m. by Louis

Greetings and welcome to my first Downstream blog entry. Allow me to introduce myself – I am Louis van Wyk – the newly installed Communications and Marketing Manager here at TUANZ. A little about myself… I am South African by birth, but a New Zealander by choice having made this country my home over the past seven years. Career-wise I have spent the majority of my time in New Zealand reporting on the local IT sales channel – this is the community of folks who sell, implement, consult on, design,...

Comments (0)

Thanks, David Cunliffe

Posted Mon 10 November 2008 @ 2:42 p.m. by Ernie

So the Labour-led government has gone - and with it for the moment at least, David Cunliffe as Minister of Communications. Cunliffe will be missed. Seriously.Like any business organisation TUANZ membership embraces a range of political colours. Yet through all the frenetic action and controversy of these last few years it has been hard to find anyone with a serious criticism of Cunliffe as Minister. No matter how blue their tie or yellow their jacket, I've found TUANZ members have regarded him with...

Comments (5)

Ultra Fast Broadband is on the way!

Posted Mon 10 November 2008 @ 1:52 p.m. by Ernie

Quote:"There's one modern technology that stands out in terms of its ability to:- draw us closer to our trading partners- put kiwis at the forefront of technological innovation- greatly enhance the way we do business and the way we communicateThat thing is ultra-fast broadband for all New Zealanders."Those words were John Key's. They led to an announcement of the very first economic commitment made by the National Party for this year's General Election - $1.5 billion for fibre. They come from...

Comments (2)

Blog help is on the way!

Posted Fri 7 November 2008 @ 8:18 a.m. by Ernie

Next Monday will be a really important day for New Zealand in two ways.First, there'll be a new government in some shape or form.Second, at long last I'll have a new Blogging Buddy. As my loyal reader may have spotted, I've been largely on my own here since Sarah left a month ago.I'm about to be joined by Louis van Wyk, who joins the staff of TUANZ on Monday. Louis is well known within the industry from his former role with Fairfax Business Media, where he is Editor of Reseller News, the sister...

Comments (0)

IPv6 acceleration - what does it mean for large users?

Posted Sun 28 September 2008 @ 5:17 p.m. by Ernie

Internet NZ has called for New Zealand to "lead the world" in the shift from the old IPv4 Internet address protocol, to IPv6, according to this article in Computerworld last Thursday.Now I think we all realised vaguely that at some time soon the world's stock of the old IPv4 numbers is going to run out. There's an understanding that "first world" countries will make the transition first, so as to release the residue of the old numbers to developing countries. That sounds admirable. So - if you...

Comments (0)

4 October - the day to get rid of your old computers

Posted Fri 19 September 2008 @ 8:37 a.m. by Ernie

Saturday 4 October is e-day. That's the day to send old computers and related electronic waste to designated collection points all arond New Zealand for environmentally- sensitive diisposal.TUANZ is not directly involved but firmly supports this annuial initiative.Details here. If in doubt, chuck it out!

Comments (0)

Telepresence - the case intensifies

Posted Mon 25 August 2008 @ 4:21 p.m. by Ernie

Its been a fascinating afternoon here in the Koru Club at Wellington airport. The fog settled in around midday, and no flights have been seen since. It now seems to be lifting so hopefully Sarah and I will get back to Auckland tonight - lots of TUANZ events later this week.But its interesting how people are responding. Apart from international travellers, most seem perfectly content to toddle off home with their bags and have another go in the morning. Which raises the interesting question of just...

Comments (0)

Too much latency can ruin your drumming

Posted Tue 5 August 2008 @ 2:06 p.m. by Ernie

I'm having an interesting time this week, along with TUANZ Chairman Chris O'Connell, attending the Asia Pacific Advanced Networks conference in Queenstown. Its filling a gap in my knowledge about how the research people use advanced networks and what the expectations are in the years ahead. There are around 330 people here, mostly international, with the event hosted by KAREN, the Kiwi Advanced Research and Education Network.A stirring powhiri aside, this morning's highlight was a wonderful presentation...

Categories: Education | Events | Innovation | ISPs

Comments (1)

"Connected Nation" makes the Wall St Journal

Posted Tue 29 July 2008 @ 12:40 p.m. by Ernie

A highlight of the TUANZ Rural Broadband Symposium at Rotorua last month was the inspirational keynote by Dr Mark McElroy, Chief Operating Officer of Connected Nation. This Washington-based entity started life on a more modest scale as "Connect Kentucky."Yesterday’s Wall Street Journal article is a concise summary of Connected Nation’s mission and its success. The rationale for the programme is neatly summed up - "Kentucky's plans to use the Internet to improve education and health care couldn't...

Comments (1)

2008 Innovation Awards finalists announced

Posted Tue 29 July 2008 @ 7:44 a.m. by Sarah

The finalists for the 2008 Innovation Awards have been announced, they are as follows: Initiative of the Year 2008 - sponsored by Voco* BayCity Communications* Kiwibank* Orcon/Nokia Siemens* TracMap NZ Limited* TracPlus Global Limited Mobile Application of the Year - sponsored by Motorola* Altaine Ltd* Kiwibank* TracMap NZ Limited Education Award - sponsored by Tyco Electronics* Farmside* Hawkes Bay DHB* King's College* National...

Categories: Education | Events | Innovation | Vendors

Comments (0)

iPhone pricing is a competition issue

Posted Wed 9 July 2008 @ 9:42 a.m. by Ernie

The furore around Vodafone New Zealand’s iPhone pricing should have been anticipated. Timing is everything and the people Vodafone is targeting are really hurting from oil and food prices. Right now there’s huge community sensitivity about prices and anything that has the look of a rip-off. That’s why the protest last week by the truckies fell on such fertile ground with the very community that was its victim. Vodafone underestimated the public outrage. A year ago they might have got away with...

Comments (6)

Chris O’Connell has a history!

Posted Fri 4 July 2008 @ 2:18 p.m. by Ernie

The TUANZ Chairman has discovered he is following in family footsteps. Recently he was shown an old file of family clippings including his grandfather’s obituary. It seems his grandfather, before World War 1 as a farmer, was involved in laying copper cable to bring telecommunications into the remote valleys of Southland. A century on and Chris now is playing a major role in the Nelson Marlborough Inforegion. Years back, he and colleagues called a meeting in Nelson. Farmers, tourist operators, fruit...

Comments (0)

Is SaaS on farms the “killer app” for rural fibre?

Posted Thu 3 July 2008 @ 4:49 p.m. by Ernie

Day 1 of the Rural Broadband Symposium is nearly over. We’ve had many moments of enlightenment. But I think thus far it was Andrew Wilshire of Fonterra who lit one of the biggest light bulbs for me when he talked about SaaS (software as a service) as part of the future of dairy farming. SaaS means that software is housed at a central point rather than on the user’s computer. It has many advantages and is increasingly used for anything from simple accounting and management packages right through...

Comments (3)

Wanted - broadband champions!

Posted Wed 2 July 2008 @ 5:49 p.m. by Ernie

"You really, really need a regional champion."That was the response to a "how do you get started" question from an attendee here at the rural broadband tutorial in Rotorua.The answer came from Jane Hindle, elder stateswoman of the TUANZ Board – been a member more than a decade.Jane should know the value of a broadband champion, because she is one. Jane worked in the industry for many years, moved to the Bay of Islands in search of a better lifestyle, and became involved. (As chairman Chris O'Connell...

Comments (1)

US study calls for 1Gbps fibre network across the nation

Posted Wed 25 June 2008 @ 3:58 p.m. by Sarah

The US might have been caught napping when it comes to broadband infrastructure when compared to Asia and Europe, but an article in MacWorld shows that - at least a state level - they’re beginning to wake up. A report commissioned by a state program in North Carolina is calling for the US to establish a national goal of making at least 100 Mbps available to all Americans at affordable rates by 2012 and for this to be expanded to at least 1 Gbps by 2015. I’ve just downloaded the Executive...

Categories: Education | Fixed line carriers | Innovation | Regulatory | TUANZ policy

Comments (0)

Fibre to the farm alive and well in northern Sweden

Posted Wed 11 June 2008 @ 2:34 p.m. by Ernie

Did you know that 200 villages in remote northern Sweden are covered by a fibre to the home network, with 80% coverage of the region’s homes and farms? That was my biggest “wow” from a riveting day here in Stockholm where I’ve been at a seminar on “An Open Telecoms Society” organized jointly by INTUG and the Swedish telecommunications user association, Telekomförening NTK. Lars Hedberg, Secretary General of the Swedish Urban Network Assn, was my informant and for me, the stand out speaker...

Comments (7)

TUANZ joins the Digital Development Council

Posted Mon 2 June 2008 @ 9:06 p.m. by Ernie

TUANZ is an inaugural member of the new Digital Development Council launched by Hon David Cunliffe at the Beehive last Thursday. The Minister's announcement indicates the high hopes he has that this "association of associations" will make a real contribution to the extension of the Digital Strategy beyond government and into the community.The Minister's statement includes all the background and details.TUANZ will be represented on the Council by Chief Executive Ernie Newman, with Chairman Chris O'Connell...

Comments (0)

Zero out of 18 for NCEA - dismal failure

Posted Tue 27 May 2008 @ 8:17 a.m. by Ernie

Every one of eighteen generic and ICT-related NCEA Technology Achievement Standards independently assessed by a panel of senior tertiary level academics under the auspices of the NZ Computer Society, has failed.Not one of the 18 met the criteria of appropriateness to prepare students for tertiary computer science study, nor for the assessment of end user computing. Not even one.What's more, the failure has been acknowledged by the Ministry of Education. "The knowledge and skills associated with Computer...

Categories: Education | Events | Innovation | TUANZ policy

Comments (10)

The morning after the budget

Posted Fri 23 May 2008 @ 4:49 p.m. by Ernie

So I’ve slept on the Budget. Among the comments I made was the summary that I was “under whelmed” with the broadband investment plan. I guess when you use language like that its inevitable that the media pick the word for a headline, especially when they’re under heavy time pressure to compile the Budget issue. It got a bit more exposure than I’d bargained on when I wrote it on this blog. So this morning I mused whether “under whelmed” was a fair statement on reflection,...

Comments (1)

Labour announces broadband policy

Posted Thu 22 May 2008 @ 2:22 p.m. by Ernie

The government announced its policy on broadband within the Budget this afternoon. I had the unusual experience of sitting through the lockup for media and analysts. The highlight is expenditure of $325 million over five years in the framework of a Broadband Investment Fund based on contestable grants available to any legal entity including local government, power and phone companies, and community groups. A good deal of detail has been released. There will be quite a complex...

Comments (5)

		64 Records Found, Viewing Page 1 of 3