The National Broadband Network and Monitoring of Security and Medical Alarm Systems
Telstra are transfering customers from its copper and hybrid fibre cable networks to the new IP based NBN and the telephone landlines that we've known and trusted for decades will soon be gone for good.
As the National Broadband Network steadily rolls out across Australia, there are many issues being raised regarding the use of the NBN for the monitoring of security and medical alarm systems. Many junction boxes are located in accessible locations on verandahs or the sides of buildings. In city terraces junction boxes are sometimes fixed on the outside of buildings at street level. If the NBN connection is on the outside of the protected premises, it would be possible for someone to unplug it. Batteries that power the NBN equipment are said to last up to 4 hours if your power goes out, or is intentionally cut.
The Solution
Upgrade your security or medical system to use an IP based alarm monitoring solution which can supervise your connection to the monitoring server and alert you within minutes if it is lost due to mains failure or sabotage.
You are unlikely to get honest, unbiased advice from your security system installer, so do your research and be prepared to ask tough questions when discussing your upgrade options.
Remember that the GPRS network is scheduled for closure and it does not provide a long term solution.
Confusion Reigns with the onset of the National Broadband Network (NBN)
The people at the NBN have no idea if alarm systems will work over their network. The people in the security industry have no idea either. Some Alarm Companies will tell consumers that there is nothing to worry about so that they do not lose their rebates. Others will insist their clients need an expensive GPRS based solution. Either way, the consumer loses out.
Advice from ASIAL: NBN obsoletes a million security systems
Advice from NBN: 'We are currently in the design phase of our network and have nothing to say at the moment on this issue'
A view from the leading security industry magazine: Security Electronics and Networks
Statement from the owner of IP Alarms on why you will get bad advice from the security industry when investigating your options on making your alarm system work with the NBN: NBN Upgrade
Monitoring Alarms over the Internet
Monitoring security and medical alarms over IP may only just be starting in Australia, but we already have years of experience behind us as we have listened carefully to our Clients in Europe, North America and elsewhere. Flexibility, and speed to adapt to the needs of modern day Alarm Monitoring users, installers and service providers are the keys to our success. If you are looking for a solution to the problems caused by the NBN or migration to VoIP, then IP Alarms have the answer.
2G GSM/GPRS Network Closure.
Just to add to the confusion, its not only telephone landlines that are being phased out. Australian consumers are hungry for bandwidth and the 2G GSM/GPRS network is scheduled to be closed down within 4-6 years, if not earlier. When you are researching options for upgrading your security system, GPRS based equipment may not provide you with the future-proof solution you are looking for. The pending 2G/GPRS network closure simply adds weight to the argument that the future of alarm monitoring is in affordable IP based solutions.
