Australian Broadband Network History

Australian Broadband Network

• In 2009, the Australian government planned to supply 93% of the population with super-fast fiber-based internet.
• By 2013, this plan was revised to reuse existing copper wire.
• As of 2025, many Australians still lack adequate internet access.
• This network is stuck in a cycle of incompletion.
• In the 2000s, Telstra proposed a network centered around itself.
• The Labor Party planned to build a Fibre-to-the-Premise (FTTP) network in 2007, promising universal 25mbps internet speed.
• The Liberal Party replaced it with a Fibre-to-the-Node (FTTN) network due to economic concerns.

FTTP vs. FTTN

• FTTP involves connecting every household to a fiber optic cable, which is costly.
• FTTN connects fiber optic cables to large hubs, using traditional wires to connect households.
• FTTN is less reliable and has a shorter lifespan compared to FTTP.
• The project was critically over budget and poorly managed, including investing billions in incompatible cables.
• Despite the issues, Australia's economy performed well in connectivity and online streaming services during this period.
• By late 2020, the project was deemed complete, reducing unconnected households from 100,000 to 35,000.
• Some households will remain unconnected due to continuous new construction.
• 230,000 households still cannot meet the 25mbps broadband speed standard, though 11.86 million can.

International Comparison

• Canada's high-speed rail network had its target speed reduced and was rebranded.
• Many developed countries favor slow, incremental projects over ambitious ones.

Canadian High-Speed Rail

• Via Rail in Canada is often late, expensive, and time-consuming.
• No high-speed rail option exists, making Canada the only G7 country without it.
• The US's high-speed rail system barely qualifies, with limited high-speed stretches.
• Canada has numerous studies on high-speed rail but lacks implementation.
• Potential high-speed rail corridors include Calgary to Edmonton and the Windsor Corridor, but costs are a concern.
• Politicians often use the promise of HSR as a marketing strategy.
• HSR is logistically challenging in Canada due to land acquisition, planning, rail, and train costs.
• Canada lacks the population density needed for HSR to be economically viable.
• A "higher-frequency" train service is proposed as a temporary fix, improving efficiency and reducing delays.
• Via Rail delays are largely due to lower priority than freight trains.
• Alto, a recently announced high-speed rail project, is planned for the Windsor corridor, aiming for 300kmph.
• Prairie Link is another potential HSR line from Calgary to Edmonton, with proposed speeds of 450kmph.

Megaprojects

• Megaprojects, costing at least $1 billion, make up 8% of global GDP.
• China is a major contributor to megaprojects in infrastructure.
• Megaprojects are often poorly executed and over budget due to optimistic estimates.
• Social and political factors also drive megaprojects, such as having the tallest building.

Challenges and Risks

• Long completion times lead to setbacks and unexpected events, causing delays.
• Setbacks are described as "black swans," with larger projects having more potential for issues.
• Megaprojects provide economic stimulus during stagnation but are costly to stop mid-development.

Seattle's Bertha Project

• The Seattle project involving Bertha, a tunnel-boring machine, faced significant issues.
• Bertha overheated early in the project, requiring extensive and costly repairs.
• Repair efforts included digging down to the machine, replacing parts, and fixing the city's foundation.

Public Perception

• Public perception of megaprojects is important, with locals potentially having different views.
• Positive impacts are felt at regional and national levels, but local concerns vary.
• Tangible benefits are preferred over intangible ones, though national pride is still valued.
• Public opinion is increasingly considered a factor in megaproject planning.

Suramadu Bridge

• The Suramadu Bridge is an example of a project where locals largely agreed with the construction.
• Completed in the mid-2000s, it faced controversies related to cultural identity and local employment.
• Surveys affirmed that most people were well-informed about the project.
• Overall, the construction was regarded as positive due to economic and quality-of-life boosts.

Megaproject Categories

• Transportation Improvements
• New Land/City Development
• Water-related Projects

The Big Dig

• The Big Dig in Boston was a failed megaproject regarding planning and management.
• The cost was nearly three times the initial projection, with delays of almost a decade.
• It rerouted parts of Interstate 93 underground and added a road to Logan International Airport.
• Substandard materials led to water leaks and a fatal roof collapse.
• Despite positive economic and efficiency benefits, the project was a failure.

Channel Tunnel (Chunnel)

• The Chunnel, connecting France and the UK, was more successful in planning and development.
• Its cost was lower than projected, and it has been profitable since opening in 1994.
• It includes separate sections for cars and a high-speed rail system.
• Illegal immigration became an issue, requiring new legislation to ensure border control.

California High-Speed Rail (CASHR)

• CASHR is a publicly funded megaproject known for delays and high costs.
• Legal issues, including land acquisition, have impeded progress.
• 192km of track is being built on the Initial Operating Segment (IOS), with an eventual length of 275km.
• Phase 1 aims to build a line from Los Angeles to San Francisco, projected to cost $106.2 billion.
• If complete, CASHR would have trains with a top operating speed of 350kmph.
• Brightline is another private project connecting LA with Las Vegas, with a maximum speed of 300kmph.

Sejong City

• Sejong is the administrative capital of South Korea, designed to decongest Seoul.
• It began in 2007 and follows a special set of laws.
• Most of South Korea’s government affairs are handled in Sejong.
• It was designed as a "smart city" with IoT integrations.
• Success is debatable, with a low population of about 400,000.
• Criticized for being inaccessible, poorly designed, and inconvenient.

Hambantota

• Hambantota in Sri Lanka underwent major construction after the 2004 tsunami.
• It has an international airport and a major seaport, aiming to be the second major urban hub.
• China’s Belt and Road initiative is heavily involved, with Chinese companies investing in the port.
• Exports include cement, fertilizer, and salt.
• It hosts the Mahinda International Stadium.

NEOM

• NEOM is the largest project, comprising all of Saudi Arabia's megaprojects.
• Projected to cost over $8.8 trillion, it aims to move Saudi Arabia's economy away from oil.
• The project faced delays, with much of the city hoped to be done by 2039.
• Sindalah, a luxury island destination, opened in October 2024
• Forced relocation of the Howeitat tribe and abusive work culture are major controversies.
• Israel is speculated to be largely invested in the project.
• The Line, a 170km long linear "smart city," has faced delays and scrutiny.

Khazar Islands

• The Khazar Islands were planned as a collection of 41 manmade islands in Azerbaijan.
• Plans included an airport, city amenities, an F-1 racetrack, and the Azerbaijan Tower.
• The project stalled due to the crash of oil prices in 2015.

Three Gorges Dam

• The Three Gorges Dam is the largest hydroelectricity dam in the world by volume, capacity, and energy produced.
• Located on the Yangtze River in Hubei province.
• Construction began in 1994 and full operation started in 2012.
• It was expected to supply 10% of China’s power but only provides 1.7% at best.
• Displaced over 1 million people and impacted culturally significant sites/habitats.
• Fault for the extinction of the Chinese river dolphin.
• The project paid for itself within one year of full operation.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai Bridge

• The Hong Kong-Zhuhai Bridge connects Hong Kong, Macau, and Zhuhai, opened in 2018.
• It is the longest bridge and connection over water globally.
• Reduced travel time between Zhuhai and Hong Kong from 4 hours to 30 minutes by car.
• Leads to interesting driving scenarios due to different traffic laws and regulations.
• Often underused due to quotas on vehicles and special regulations.

New Eurasian Land Bridge

• The New Eurasian Land Bridge is a rail link between China and Europe.
• Part of China’s Belt and Road initiative, also called the Second Eurasian Continental Bridge.
• The original route was discontinued in 2022 due to sanctions on Russia.
• The new route avoids Russia entirely, passing through the Caspian Sea.

Loneliness

• Loneliness is now considered a global health threat by the WHO.
• Its modern popularity stems from the Covid-19 pandemic.
• The issue is shared worldwide, transcending HDI and financial status.
• Health risks are comparable to smoking 15 packs of cigarettes a day.

Loneliness: Facts and Figures

• Increases risk of dementia by 50% and stroke by 30% for older individuals.
• Most prevalent in Africa, where peace, security, and climate change contribute to loneliness
• Eastern Europeans fell most victim to loneliness
• Northern European and Scandinavian countries found to have the lowest rates of loneliness
• Older individuals are more at risk of being lonely; twice as present as lonely youth on average

Solutions to Loneliness

• A public health approach would first tackle issues of poverty and education
• Some countries, like Japan, are trying to tackle the problem with technology

Loneliness in Japan

• The loneliness epidemic has hit Japan hard.
• Japan has a large aging population, with many older people living alone.
• Social structure decline, with "Western-style Nuclear Families" replacing traditional Japanese family structures.
• Harsh work conditions leave little time for social interaction.
• Kodokushi (dying alone) is prevalent.
• Robots are being used to address loneliness, e.g., Paro (robotic seal), Aibo (robot dog), the Pepper robot.

Limitations of Techno-Solutionism

• Robots may create more work for caregivers and victims.
• Robots have failed to be efficient in caretaking, and brought up the substitution of Human interaction
• Japan are often accepting of the idea of adopting robots into daily life (believe robots have a "soul")
• Care is inherently a human trait

The Decline of Living Conditions

• In 2021, living conditions in 90% of the world's countries had declined.
• The cost of living crisis has shifted from an economic anomaly to a "new normal."

The Meta-Crisis

• The cost of living issue has developed into this "new normal" largely because of consistently slow-growing wages alongside constantly increasing costs in housing, healthcare, education, and more
• Can be described the compounding affect of issues in different segments of society. the Digital divide, debt levels, and economic gaps are all attributed to the issue

Fertility and Age Structure

• Most countries have falling fertility rates; two-thirds of the population live in countries whose fertility rates are too low to sustain their population
• Age structures are turning from Pyramids into Obelisks which is bad for development
• Workers and median ages are becoming older, and the Ratio of older to younger is decreasing

Podcasts and Social Interaction

• Podcasts have gained popularity as a form of companionship during the pandemic.
• Seen as conversations with speakers relating to audience members, growing a sense of kinship
• Podcasts can replace genuine interaction.
• A person may develop a intimacy with the speaker despite the conversation being largely one-sided - “parasocial interaction”

Charles Guiteau

• Charles Guiteau was an American who assassinated President James Garfield
• Narcissist due to possible schizophrenia
• Shot Garfield in Washington DC at a railroad station

Social Media & Loneliness

• Those who spend more time on social media feel lonelier than those who spend less - a correlation
• Increase of social media usage is also linked to distractability and sleep deprivation
• Disconnection could be the issue, mild notifications leading to a decrease of present enjoyment
• Envy against models and idealized people in social media leads to further societal disconnect

Cyberbullying & Social Media

• Of the people who shared experiences of being cyberbullied (34% overall), a majority shared it impacted their mental health and ability to engage
• Social media has its upsides in promoting ease of information alongside social networking
• Depressed people are more likely to use social media

Doctors view on the social media

• Social media can be fulfilling in connecting people with the world, but poses harm with too much interaction
• social media shouldn’t be treated like ebola, but it shouldn’t be water either
• Rather than following the displacement hypothesis, suggest a approach that's not to excessive

The case of: Twitter vs Taamneh court case

• • Jordanian family filing a lawsuit against social media companies
• These companies allegedly allowing ISIS to use the platform’s algorithms to recruit, fundraise, and spread propaganda, leading to an event which killed one of said family’s members
• The supreme court ruled that the platforms weren’t liable for their indirect damages, because there wasn’t enough evidence to suggest these platforms were directly assisting
• Traces back to the Communications Decency Act (Section 230), which dictates that the internet is like a bookstore; in essence, the owner of platforms is not responsible for the content of the platform

The communications decency act

• "[N]o provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.”
• The section removes accountability from platforms to regulate content, giving it immunity from the opinions it spreads from its users

Facts about the Rohingya Genocide

• Case of the issue of Section 230
• Facebook was blamed for amplifying hateful content against the Burmese(Myanma) ethnic minority.
• Ethnic military ruler Buddhist state
• Led to ~25,000 deaths and ~700,000 refugees

Factors enabling Facebook to amplifies hate.

• Lack of moderation, financial incentives for propaganda and a serious lack of moderation by the Burmese military and extremist groups
• Algorithm designed to create communities and building a distrust of the rohingya
• Psychological nature influences those neutral to fall to the propaganda

Negative news overload

• Perpetuation of negative news comes from the competitive strategy; sites revenue drive for "click-bait"
• Termed "media saturation overload" a a declining of moods that occur after seeing negative news without acknowledgment
• "Doomscrolling” and “headline anxiety” have been coined to reflect mental trends
• The fact that readers don’t think they can help, that they're not able to, results in mental harm from negative news
• Often Times Social Influences are those who are much more vulnerable

Traumatic news influencing our actions

• Well-known psychological phenomenon: negativity bias says that we pay more attention to negative things around us
• Long term effects developing such as high stress hormones
• Traumatic news footage leads to distress, anxiety, to physical effects being increased likelihood of heart attack