Broadband Strategy Options
InternetNZ has an RFP out, calling for proposals to evaluate options for broadband infrastructure rollout in New Zealand.
The intention of the RFP is:
The RFP being released today closes on Friday 18 July 2008 at 4pm. The objective is to select an individual or organisation to research and analyse options that have been raised along with other approaches that have been utilised internationally.
There will be a two-stage process with Stage One including a discovery process and literature review leading to recommendations as to what will be achievable. Stage Two will result in the final report. InternetNZ is looking for a “strawman” model with costings, possible investment approaches and the identification of any further work required.
It will be an interesting mix of skills needed for RFP respondents. Economic modelling, investment financing, engineering to name a few.
The idea is to identify the best path forward for achieving widely available high speed broadband in New Zealand. The key principles are:
- Structured in such a way to ensure service providers can fairly compete
- Funded in such a way that at least 75% of families can afford services offered over the infrastructure
- Bandwidth should be unconstrained which in current environment is 100 Mbps for domestic users and 1 Gbps for commercial users
It is hoped the report, from the sucessful respondent, will greatly advance the policy debate about how best to have affordable high speed wide-spread broadband.