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For those needing comprehensive information and objective analysis of Australias residential, business, government and regional Markets in Australia, this report provides essential reading and gives in-depth information on:Key regional state broadband and infrastructure projects. Telecommunications policies and developments on a state-wide level. Market surveys into the usage of Internet and broadband services in the residential, business and government sectors. ARPU and subscriber statistics, across a range of market segments including web hosting and advertising. Insight into the drivers and triggers behind Internet and broadband adoption amongst Australian households. Regional trends and infrastructure developments. Profiles of the key and emerging local telco players in each region. Executive summaryBuddeComms 2007 Australia Residential, Business, Government and Regional Markets Annual Publication, provides information on a wide range of topics spanning Australian regional projects and government initiatives, as well as telecommunication policies and developments on a state-wide level. Market insight into a wide range of topics, including the usage of Internet and broadband services in the residential and business sectors are provided. The report includes ARPU and subscriber statistics across a range of market segments including web hosting and advertising. In addition, it examines regional trends and infrastructure developments. An overview of regional government policies at a national level is also provided.The business market has been quick to embrace broadband by 2007 the vast majority of the business sector had made the transition. Further growth is expected in 2008 and 2009. Australias 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.Residential and Business marketsConsumer usage and behavioural patterns are also covered in some of the surveys. Our report provides a unique insight into the drivers and triggers behind Internet and broadband adoption among Australian households. Surveys covered include a statistical overview from the Australian Bureau of Statistics regarding computer and Internet usage amongst Australian households.With the market gradually moving to faster broadband access via ADSL2+ and eventually fibre, we are beginning to see the start of much steeper growth in new broadband applications. The report provides a detailed overview of the key drivers and trends behind broadband adoption in the Australian business market as well as revenue, ARPU and subscriber statistics, across a range of market segments including web hosting and advertising. Market surveys reveal that Australian Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) are doing a lot more with their ICT infrastructure and broadband is becoming a commoditised technology. For more information on the business market see chapter 1.1, page 1.For more information on the residential market see chapter 1.2, page 11.Government marketsAn overview of the business and government sector in a number of areas of telecommunications and Information Technology is provided. Detailed statistics are included on the business usage of technology, including breakdowns of computer and Internet usage, purchasing over the Internet and usage by type of Internet and broadband connection. An overview of each state is included, detailing key government initiatives in the telecommunications sectors, such as government policies and objectives, a review of budget allocations and government broadband initiatives.A cross section of key government developments includes the following:The NSW Government announced in January 2007 that Internet providers were being invited to take part in a new government initiative to provide free wireless broadband to the states major CBD areas. In 2007 and beyond, the Victorian Government is applying the Broadband Framework to help position Victoria as a world leader in the use of current and next generation broadband technologies. In Tasmania, TasGovNet is a partially-lit, fibre optic backbone project owned by the Tasmanian Government, connecting North, South and North-West Tasmania. In November 2006 the WA government pledged $1 billion of telecom spend over 10 years for a proposed broadband network offering 10Mb/s to all homes and businesses in the state. Under the Clever Networks program, the local government has engaged a Broadband Development Manager to support Queensland organisations that have identified improved broadband infrastructure and services as a priority area for their region. For more information on the government markets, see chapter 2, page 28.Broadband projectsThis section of the report provides updates on key state broadband projects as well as an overview of the key telcos operating at a regional level. A cross section of key regional developments includes the following:In March 2007 the Queensland Government received 12 expressions of interest, including responses for its planned 100Mb/s Project Vista network in Brisbane. A winner is expected to be awarded by the end of 2007 to commence network construction in mid-2008. Local telco Internode will deploy broadband infrastructure in a 42,000 sq km region stretching from Adelaides northern fringe to the Flinders Ranges, through an agreement with the Central Local Government Region of SA. By the beginning of 2007, the TasCOLT FttH project in Tasmania had officially launched. The project relates to the installation, deployment and operation of ultra broadband services. In Victoria, the City of Whittlesea in conjunction with Casey, Cardinia, Wyndham and Melton Councils has developed a Melbourne growth council consortium to bring broadband to new development areas. By 2007 the Victorian Pyrenees/Grampians Customer Access Network Demonstration Project (CANDP) was delivering broadband access to local businesses and households. For more information on broadband projects, see chapter 3.3, page 91.Regional developmentsAustralias 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. This report includes analyses some of the numerous issues involved, and many of the initiatives that have been launched, completed and continuing in the bid to Connect Australias regional and rural communities. The focus is on the governments role, with private sector activities profiled elsewhere. As a result of the further privatisation of Telstra, regional infrastructure funds, Regional Fund and Connect Australia, have been put in place valued at $3 billion. An overview and analysis of regional infrastructure in Australia is also examined.For more information on regional developments, see chapter 3, page 79. |