Annabelle:
I’m here with Ken from RED WiFi and we’ve come across some disturbing news that in our
opinion, spells disaster for Rural, Regional & Remote Australia with regards to reliable, quality
& fair internet access.
So Ken, tell me what it is that you have actually discovered.
Ken :
The ACMA is looking at taking the 3.6GHz & 1.5GHz licenced spectrums off the little ISP’s and
giving it to the big guys so we can’t use it.
Similar to what has happened to the 700MHz spectrum and that means no one can use it.
Where it’s locked up, it’s Telstra’s, we can’t use it, we can’t put towers up in that spectrum,
there’s nothing we can do to help people in areas.
Even if the spectrum is not being used, we can’t use the 700MHz.
They’re basically looking at doing that with the 3.6GHz & the 1.5GHz.
We have purchased gear in this spectrum & now we can’t us it. No small ISP will be able to
use it once this is official.
It’s basically, throw the gear in the bin because it’s useless. You won’t be able to sell the
equipment (to recover costs) or use it in Australia.
It really does spell disaster.
It’s big companies taking over and basically stopping the little guys from getting off the
ground and going into areas that they don’t want and that they’re not interested in
servicing anyway but they are going to have the frequency in that area and no one can use
it when they’re not even using it either.
Annabelle:
What does that mean for the customer in layman terms?
Ken:
locked up.
It means NO ISP other than Telstra or NBN can service your area. The spectrum will be
We would be forced to use unlicensed frequencies which is open to major interference.
There’s nothing that can be done. We could get knocked offline easily and forced out of
locations as areas become hotter and hotter because Australia will push more into the future
of communications (e.g. Telemetry, talking to wells etc).
It would basically mean being forced to use open-air free stuff that’s unlicensed. It’s not
worth doing as you can easily be knocked offline permanently.
Annabelle:
So what is the difference between using unlicensed and licensed?
Ken:
Licensed means that if anyone else comes into your spectrum (which would knock you
offline) you would have the right to take action to ensure a quality network for current
customers.
Unlicensed means if someone knocks your services offline, there’s nothing that can be done.
Only option is to move the network out of that area or shut down, leaving customers
“high’n’dry”.
Annabelle:
So it’s basically quality assurance. This new development means that the small ISP’s can’t
guarantee quality and assurance for their internet and I just think that what is about to
happen is disgusting
Ken:
The way it works now is basically, you buy a spectrum in that specific area. So if that
spectrum is not being used, you can then buy it.
If it is being used you can’t use it in that area. And that’s fine.
What they want to do now is basically block it out whether it’s used or not used so you
can’t use it.
So even if you live in the middle of “whoop whoop” or in the Simpson Desert you can’t use it
because it’s locked out. Even if no one else is using that spectrum there.
They’re not and no one else is going to put the gear up there in most of these areas.
We wouldn’t be here if they were servicing these areas better and if internet wasn’t a
problem.
Annabelle:
Now this just doesn’t affect RED WiFi.
This will affect ALL little ISP’s doing this wireless technology.
Although we have bought some equipment for that spectrum, our whole network doesn’t
rely on that particular frequency.
However, there are some ISP’s whose whole network relies on that frequency and this
decision will cripple them and do them out of business because they are now going to have
to buy all this equipment all over again and redo it.
What is about to happen to these little guys is disgusting.
Ken:
You’re talking millions of dollars in equipment too.
Some ISP’s have sunk millions of dollars into it.
We were only just getting going and we don’t have lots of equipment.
We were looking at it but why would you roll out equipment/network and give rural
communities a quality internet network if they government could basically come in and
shut you down tomorrow.
You now own equipment that’s useless.
We have talked to the ACMA and they are not going to buy the equipment. It’s basically
tough luck and off you go.
Annabelle:
Now the decision hasn’t been made though yet has it?
It’s in discussions.
They’re making their decision by the 25th November 2016. (Please Note: This date has now
been extended to the 9th December 2016)
Ken:
The ACMA will then make a decision based on what the people want and how much interest
they get back on the issue.
If everyone just goes, “who cares” and doesn’t act (submit the form) Australia loses and the
internet goes back to what it was.
It’s the big guys locking the little guys out of operating.
With the way it is setup now with licensed frequencies even if we went with the American
model, it would be a lot better than what Australia’s currently is.
In the US, if you live in a blackspot, you can put a tower up and run in a frequency just like
the other broadcasters. There’s not a monopoly that says, “Nuh, we own that, you can’t be in
there.” In America you can put a tower up and service people on a roaming network.
I’m sure there’s a lot of farmers that want internet and phone service that would build
their own tower and off they go. And whoever connects to it the farmer would make
money off of it.
Annabelle:
So what can people do to express their opinion and prevent the monopolizing of the
industry to ensure better quality, reliable internet to Rural, Regional and Remote Australia?
Ken:
Click the link on our Facebook video or on our website, complete the form, attach a
submission (or grab a template from our website) and mention YOU DON’T WANT THESE
FREQUENCIES AND SPECTRUMS TAKEN AWAY FROM ALL ISP’S AND GIVEN TO MAJOR
TELCOS. Also mention, YOU WOULD PREFER A STEP FORWARD LIKE THE AMERICAN MODEL
AND OPENS IT ALL UP but that you DEFINITELY DON’T WANT THESE FREQUENCIES TAKEN
AWAY.
This is a MAJOR game changer for Australian internet.
Annabelle:
I’ll put in the description explaining what needs to be done. A link will be added (Facebook,
YouTube, website) so that you can have an impact on the decision.
We’ll plaster it wherever we can.
Let’s make this VIRAL!
This is not fair or good. Not just for ISP’s but for farming communities etc. Not good for the
ENTIRE rural area of Australia.
It’s disadvantaging people even further.
Ken:
Where’s the ACCC?
This is sort of ACCC territory.
This is basically blocking other people from doing business in an area.
Feel free to also lobby your local members. Get them on board. Speaking with one voice
will get you a lot of traction.
Annabelle:
We hope this video goes viral and action is taken to prevent this from happening.
Thank you guys for watching, it’s been a pleasure. Looking forward to a flood of support
soon. Thanks.
Ken:
Thank you.