Discussed Essay Name: ASYNCHRONOUS SPEEDS: DISENTANGLING THE DISCOURSE OF ‘HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND’ IN RELATION TO AUSTRALIA’S NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK
Faster, faster and faster. Easier, easier and easier. More and more refined. More and more convenient. Human beings do favour of hankering a much more ideal world at a touch of their fingertips. The problem is not with the wish, it’s at the urge and anxiety to achieve this ideal. In this essay, the author problematised the “High-speed broadband” which people hankers, including of course, the National Broadband Network (NBN). It is said that the term “high-speed” has been over-simplified by many. What does “high-speed” really mean when it comes to actually achieve it? Too idealized projects may be half-way abandoned or a disaster if it were to impend. So this “high-speed broadband project” should be dealt with care. Politically, it needs the support of the government to make it happen so that funds and the construction of high-speed system will be granted; economically, will the great cost of the system worth its value? As for the citizens, is the project necessary and possible for everyone to really get this high-speed service? Some may don’t want to spend all too much money due to their income; and some may think their need for speed is already satisfied.
This, for some mysterious reason, reminds me of the developing landscape in China. The unevenly distributed forces for development marks a major problem in its way to modernization. Cities like Shanghai and Guangzhou have reached a level that most of other cities in China won’t be able to get to in 10 years (my crude estimation under the current circumstances). Eventually, the overly sped-up transition is not going to look good. So, what the author of the essay is considering has the same nature of this situation. When there is no need for “the best”, we might as well take a slower path which will cut cost and save effort. China now is at a tremendous cost of environment and work to have reach the achievements now. Sometimes, I can’t help to think back: is it really worth it? At the cost of our own living environment?
