NBN the answer to disability and disadvantaged: Conroy

Communications minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, has sought to position the National Broadband Network (NBN) as a means to connect those who are digitally isolated as a result of age, illness or disability.

Addressing attendees at the National Digital Inclusion Summit, Conroy said the NBN would enable socially isolated Australians to chat, browse and shop, access services and information and connect with their community outside the walls of their home.


“For many isolated Australians the walls or their home define the world, setting the boundaries of their social contact. The internet has the power to dissolve those walls,” Conroy said.

http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/397538/nbn_answer_disability_disadvantaged_conroy/?uts_source=sectionfeed&utm_medium=rss

Being disabled the NBN will be a god send for me, I basically live online, well I do go out every now and then, but the net brings the world to me, right inside my home.

More competition for NBN access drives prices lower

Well if I ever get access to the NBN at my place, I know who I will be going with, Exetel, having been with them before, I have no problem recommending them, Exetel's prices consistently trump the others. I am with iPrimus naked at the moment and although I am happy, I have my doubts their NBN prices will beat Exetel's.

Media Release

Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today welcomed further news that competition by internet retail service providers was bringing good news for National Broadband Network (NBN) customers.

Senator Conroy said Exetel’s announcement today of its entry level price of $34.50 was almost half that released by Internode last week and even lower than the sub-$40 package mooted by budget provider Dodo last Friday.

“As each day passes we are seeing competition in the retail NBN access market drive prices lower. This is great news for internet consumers,” Senator Conroy said.

“It is now time for Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull to stand up and admit they have been deliberately misleading the Australian public about the NBN.”

Senator Conroy said he was looking forward to even more pricing announcements by retail service providers over coming weeks.

He added that consumers needed to be wary of misleading media reports which were not accurately comparing the details of NBN access pricing packages.

“In many cases it is extremely difficult to make a proper comparison of packages because the speeds actually being delivered by internet service providers currently using today’s aging copper infrastructure are often well below what they are advertised to be,” he said.

“Another thing consumers should be aware of is that some media reports are not including line rental when they quote current internet plan prices, which is approximately $30 on top of the plan cost.

“The NBN is creating a network that will cater to the future needs of Australia, a network that will end the digital divide between metropolitan and regional Australia and one that will make Australia a world-leading digital economy.”


Date: Monday 25 July 2011