Sam's wild years

The NZ Computer Society has posted video of Sam Morgan addressing its recent 50 Years of ICT Innovation" conference in Rotorua.

It's well worth checking out. Partly for its articulate boosting of Pacific Fibre's business case (along with some great gee-whiz cable graphics).

As Sam points out, there are lots of cables out there, but almost all are owned by phone companies - who are naturally wary of cheap, unlimited bandwidth and its potential to erode what's left off their tolls and other traditional revenue.

Mr Morgan's Pacific Fibre start-up on the other hand, would be one of the first carrier-independent cables in the world. Its interests will be the same as end users: getting as much data flowing as possible; hopefully uncapped by ISPs.

Hmm, seems quite hackable.

And partly for a couple of tales from Sam's youth, including a scheme to send floppy disks around the world for free (by washing off post marks in warm water) and using alligator clips to access a telephone concentration point outside his neighbour's house for free bandwidth.

Be warned that the Trade Me founder deploys the F word with reasonable frequency, but personally I find that less offensive that someone who bores an audience with business book cliches or mindless boosterism. It's essential viewing.

An interesting side note: Sam credits David Cunliffe (Communications Minister in the last Labour government) with prodding he and Rod Drury to pursue their plan to lay a second cable out of New Zealand.

Life as a newspaper baron
Sam tells the audience that, having spent many years trying to kill off newspapers, it's an interesting experience to have joined the board of Fairfax.

He used to be "deeply convinced" that newspapers were dying. Now he's slowly coming around.