Small thought on WiMax for regional Australia...
One aspect of the Australian Government's broadband programme that hasn't been discussed much is that WiMax could be a very useful infrastructure in regional areas where transport is a highly important part of rural-regional-metro trade.
Increased competition in back-haul is an important component, estimated (optimistically?) at 30%... and in terms of metro-regional equity, the Victoria-Tasmania optic fibre link will be supplemented, so that's good, but not even the capital qualifies for the later metro FTTN network -- not so good (to put it mildly.)
Some are rightly pointing out that the international submarine cable situation needs some attention in this whole debate, but there is some activity in the area; general capacity in being increased, and a competitive cable may be built, so it's not all doom-and-gloom.
...and I'm obviously being far too optimistic. Oh well, it's... nice, sometimes. ; )
DCITA - OPEL fact sheet (PDF)
