This report provides information on a wide range of topics spanning Australian regional projects and government initiatives, as well as policies in telecommunication and IT developments on a state-wide level.
Market surveys covering Internet and computer usage for both the residential and business markets are provided as well as a range of other topics including mobile services.
In addition, the report examines regional broadband usage and provides an overview of overall regional trends and regional infrastructure developments.
An overview of regional government policies at a national level is also provided.Residential marketsThe report contains detailed research and statistics covering the household usage of telecommunications, the Internet, broadband and mobile services as well as other residential market topics such as the youth market, trends in digital media, fault restoration and connection.
Mobile topics covered include mobile phone usage and ownership, content purchasing and expected future usage.Business marketsAn overview is provided of the business and government sector in a number of areas of telecommunications and Information Technology.
A number of market overviews and surveys of market sectors including Internet and broadband, the enterprise voice market and the business use of technology are provided.
Findings from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on business use of Information Technology are also included.Regional developmentsThis section of the report provides 2006 updates of key regional state projects as well as a section on the key telcos in the state.
It includes updates on key government initiatives such as the Demand Aggregation Broker Program for broadband access and the Government’s new initiative for regional broadband access.
Other state government broadband policies and strategies are also covered.
An examination of the government’s new Broadband Connect initiative that is evolving from the Higher Bandwidth Incentive Scheme (HiBIS) during 2006 is provided.
In March 2006 the Minister launched her Regional Wholesale Access Network initiative.
In order to maximise the benefit of the subsidies that the government has set aside for telecommunications infrastructure in Australia, Paul has argued that it was critical that the funds (Connect Australia and the future Rural Fund) be used strategically.
Following the announcement, Paul brought an industry group together to investigate how they can work together to built this alternative national platform, starting with regional Australia.
Subsequent developments and recommendations are provided in detail in this report.A detailed analysis of regional infrastructure in Australia is also examined.The Government sectorAustralia’s regional and rural communities continue to adopt a highly political stance in regards to telecommunications issues and in fact have been viewed as being a key hindrance to the privatisation of Telstra.
The report analyses some of the numerous issues involved, and many of the initiatives that have been launched, completed and continuing in the bid to connect Australia’s regional and rural communities.