By
CMDR John Rousseau
Internet
Kiosk services provided at Navy establishments have been withdrawn
from service. The withdrawal took place on August 28.
The kiosks were first introduced in Aug 2000 at 14 Navy establishments.
An initiative from the Tomorrow’s Navy Today (TNT) program,
they allowed greater access to the Internet for RAN personnel,
either free or pay as you go.
By August this year the number of kiosks operated in establishments
had grown to 28.
Under the provisions of a three-year contract with Telstra, Navy
funded the hire of each kiosk, establishments paid their individual
ISP costs and the welfare committees administered the local running
of the kiosks, which included receiving any profit or covering
any losses.
The service operated successfully in most establishments, however,
with greater access to the Internet available to all personnel,
through the Defence Restricted Network (DRN), the requirement
for the kiosks has diminished.
As the end of the contract drew near, Navy Systems Command sought
feedback from establishments on the service provided, investigated
options to improve the service, and approached three companies
to deliver the service for a further three years.
Although a number of establishments recommended retaining the
service, the decision was taken to withdraw on the basis of cost,
reduced usage and higher priorities.
This decision is not expected to reduce individuals’ access
to the Internet significantly.
All sailors are issued with a DRN account on leaving Recruit School
and DRN terminals are significantly more accessible than three
years ago when the kiosks were first introduced.
Additionally, where a requirement is identified, individual establishments
may consider entering a contract to provide kiosk facilities with
a local provider.
While it is acknowledged that not all personnel will have improved
accessibility to the DRN, the introduction of new platforms and
the future improvements to information systems will provide Navy
people with appropriate access to the DRN and consequently, Internet
facilities.
Success’
night RAS on CROC 03
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HMAS
Success (CMDR John Connor) begins, through the night vision
lens, a RAS with HMAS Kanimbla (CMDR Stephen Woodall). The
NATO probe can be seen snaking through the dark toward Kanimbla.
Photo: POPH Kev Bristow
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