Is it just me or is this really obvious...

So - the Australian government didn't make quite as much as expected from the "digital dividend" - the spectrum auction that was to sell off the 700 MHz spectrum freed up by the analogue/ digital TV switch-over.  Not only that the spectrum authority ACMA has been left holding some sizeable chunks of spectrum that didn't sell - spectrum that is ideal for LTE .

Meanwhile the NBN roll out continues to hit problems - this time asbestos fibres in the pits - which regardless of if its Telstra or NBN Co who is ultimately responsible, the pits are being disturbed as a direct result of the NBN roll-out.  Combine that with recent announcements about delays to the network and the number of connections made and its not happy reading.

We also know that many areas are not going to get fibre rolled out for ten years or so.

So - here are some ideas:

1. The spectrum that was not sold could be allocated to NBN Co for the greater good of the Australian people.
2. A LTE wireless broadband network could then be rolled out very quickly - which would allow more people to connect and start generating income for NBN Co.
3. At the same time fibre deployment should continue but the wireless layer would give greater understanding of demand areas so greater efficiency in deployment could be made
4. After the fibre has been deployed in an area the wireless service would become a premium service with limited mobility - so that connectivity could be achieved in cafes, on the beach - anywhere really.

This approach would allow the deployment of a meaningful level of connection that would still be better than available in many areas (only 500m from my house people can not get ADSL and NBN is not forecast for 5+ years) and overall the high level of service that is fibre to the home would be delivered in a timely manner where the demand was.

Seems simple and I am sure there would be a myriad of issues to resolve - but it also might be better than the way its going today...

Today in History - (and how to motivate your team.)

In 1915 a clergyman from Tasmania the Rev Frank Bethune enlisted in the Army - he could have chosen the rank of major and become a Padre but instead chose to be a commissioned officer (2nd Lieutenant) in an infantry unit.  By March 1918 he was a Lieutenant with the 3rd Machine Gun Company and at that time the German army was using new tactics (including the use of "storm troopers") and had re-captured much ground.  Bethune's section was tasked with the defence of an area of the Ypres Salient known as Buff Bank - while his whole section volunteered he chose 6 men to defend the position alongside himself.  Meanwhile the nearby Australian and British troops were moved back to prepare for counter attacks leaving the 7 men dangerously exposed to attack.
On 13th March 1918 Bethune wrote his orders to his section as follows:

Special Orders to No 1 Section 13/3/18
(1) This position will be held, and the Section will remain here until relieved.
(2) The enemy cannot be allowed to interfere with this programme.
(3) If the Section cannot remain here alive, it will remain here dead, but in any
case it will remain here.
(4) Should any man through shell-shock or other cause attempt to
surrender, he will remain here dead.
(5) Should all guns be blown out, the Section will use Mills grenades and
other novelties.
(6) Finally, the position, as stated will be held.
F.P. Bethune Lt
O/c No 1 Section.3

Despite continuous artillery barrages of high explosive, shrapnel and gas
shells and attack after attack by German storm troopers they held the position for 18 days.  Bethune was awarded the Military Cross and his orders were circulated widely as ‘an admirable model of all
that a set of standing trench orders should be’

Many years later at the 1999 rugby world cup final, Millenium Stadium in Cardiff and the Wallabies are about to take to the field to play France - the coach, Rod MacQueen, gathers his team together - doesn't talk tactics but reminds them of a visit they had made to an Australian WW1 war grave cemetery in France and the row upon row of crosses for fallen Australian Diggers - and then he told them the above story - with the finishing note "And guys, they held that position"  As soon as he finished the team took to the pitch without another word being uttered.

How do you reckon they went?  Do you think the hairs stood up on the backs of their necks as they stood and sung "Australia Fair"?

The use of inspirational stories in team motivation is very, very powerful and should not be underestimated.

(BTW they won 35-12 against a strong French team that were favourites after beating the tournament favourites  the All Blacks in the semis)

Camouflaged Sites or Screening

As more new sites are built and existing sites upgraded there is a very noticeable trend emerging - sites themselves are becoming more visually intrusive and the public do not like it.  Analysis of the NBN Co Wireless roll-out reveals tower rejections at Scottsdale in Tasmania, Yandon in Moorabool, Victoria, Napoleons and a few others all primarily because of the aesthetics - councils were faced with members of public not liking the visual impact of the presented designs from NBN Co.  Now the NBN Co wireless roll-out is an interesting case because most of us that have worked in the Australian mobile industry for a few years have traditionally experienced regional communities working very positively towards provision of services in their areas - but now the visual impact of towers and not EME concerns are driving resistance.  In rural areas it is perhaps just that vertical infrastructure has reached saturation point with protests against wind farms and so on - but its clearly a trend that visual impact matters.
 
In urban areas and back to mobile networks this concern may be more pronounced - many rooftop sites are having more antennas and equipment like RRU's added so the visual "clutter" of sites is increased.  Larger antennas that allow infrastructure/ frequency sharing will add to the problem and while still "low impact" under the Telecommunications Act determination - they may not be seen as low impact visually by landlords or the surrounding public. Traditional means of "hiding" the antennas by setting them back from the roof edge will be obsolete due to the revisions to exclusion zones and access requirements for building maintenance workers - and the need to maximise RF coverage be being on the building edges.  All this of course is activity going on now - before networks integrate (or are created) for the 700 MHz spectrum.
 
Here is some suggested solutions: 

1. Photo Montages -Back in the early days photo montages were used for the purpose of showing landowners what the developed site would look like - but they were expensive to have done.  Now with digital cameras and Photoshop they are fast, easy and inexpensive.  Prepare them and use them - with landlords, with neighbours and with councils - pictures tell a better story than drawings and can show the expected view from any particular point.  (Tip - make sure you do them accurate and to scale - you will be caught out if you dont!!)

2. Can the site be rescoped? - Can smaller antennas be used?  can that redundant equipment be removed? Think how you would feel if you had to look at it every day.

3. Screening- Sailcloth works but it is a short term solution and if it rips in the wind you end up with a maintenance issue - needs replacing every 5 years to maintain effectiveness - (will that really happen?)

4. Camouflage Solutions The only real solution when required - replication of parapet lines, re covering of plant rooms with Rf transparent screening.  Stealth can be colour and texture matched to ant surface including old sandstone on listed historic buildings.  Make sure that your supplier can supply Rf tests that show the performance of the screen as some materials do create losses, particularly for microwaves.

5. Smart Site Design This is the easiest, most effective and completely underused solution.  Make sure that your site designers "get" the visual impact side of things and you will get good results that are not visually offensive.  Some big roll-outs end up with inexperienced people on the design side and it can cause problems,