Homes Are Biggest Hurdle To Faster Broadband

"Most homes are stuck in the last century, and aren't ready to handle the speeds and data that the National Broadband Network is promising," John Fennell from the Smart Wired Consortium*- a broad based, home connectivity industry body-said at the start of the CEDIA show in Melbourne.

"When optic fibre hits the house is being called the 'last metre' and it's now the billion dollar question," Mr Fennell said

To help prod action on home technology the Consortium is launching a new Code of Practice and a number of related Handbooks.
 
"Homes already have plumbing, wiring and energy efficiency standards, but the way they handle and distribute technology is largely uncoordinated, unregulated and uninformed," Mr Fennell added.
 
The Code of Practice sets out the basic standards homes will need to ensure they get reliable and guaranteed entertainment, security, energy management, communication and automation services, and has been developed as an open, independent platform.
 
"The industry has come together to produce an agreed approach to this problem and one that helps consumers make the right choices," Mr Fennell said.
 
"But it's really just the start. Governments and industry need to adopt these common standards so that no matter where optic fibre is available the homes-and everyone living in them-can be guaranteed reliable, flexible connectivity."

Contact: Steve 0425 261 833

*Consortium members: Australian Industry Group, FOXTEL, Clipsal, Telstra Smart Community, HPM|Legrand, Connection Magazine, CEDIA, Hills, Tycab, Intelligent Home Automated Solutions, Versalux Lighting Systems, NECA, Argus Technologies, Milcom, ElecVision Smart Home Solutions, eOz Training Standards, Aus Engineering, ESP Security and Copper Development Centre.Australia