Google CEO, Eric Schmidt: "Australia is Leading the World in Understanding the Importance of Fibre." (February 20, 2011)

Google Chairman and member of the US President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) Eric Schmidt speaking at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona:

 
Australia is leading the world in understanding the importance of fibre. Your new Prime Minister has announced that 93% of Australians, which I guess are all the folks in the cities, will have gigabit or equivalent service using fibre, and the other 7% will be handled through wireless services of a nature of LTE*.

This is leadership from Australia, which I think is wonderful.

Mr Schmidt's view is in contradiction to that of the Coalition's communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull.

It can be argued that Google would have a vested interest in the introduction of fibre which of course raises the point as to what Google sees are the advantages of fibre communications and would they or wouldn't they also be advantageous for the Australian population.

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* LTE Advanced is a preliminary mobile communication standard, formally submitted as a candidate 4G system to ITU-T in late 2009. It is expected to be finalized this year.