[LINK] Fwd: vip-l: Fw: PROJECT COULD DELIVER NEXT GENERATION BROADBAND TO BRISBANE

[Jan Whitaker]

Maybe one of our Qld members/ex-members of link (I've cc'd Ann 
Moffatt) can comment.
Jan


>From: <statements at qld.gov.au>
>Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 7:10 AM
>Subject: PROJECT COULD DELIVER NEXT GENERATION BROADBAND TO BRISBANE
>
>Premier and Minister for Trade
>The Honourable Peter Beattie
>22/10/2006
>
>PROJECT COULD DELIVER NEXT GENERATION BROADBAND TO BRISBANE
>
>Brisbane residents could be the first in Australia to access next
>generation broadband under a proposal to build a cutting edge fibre
>optic network far superior to any existing telecommunications
>infrastructure in the country.
>
>Premier Peter Beattie said the Queensland Government would next month
>seek expressions of interest from the private sector to gauge commercial
>interest in financing the $550 million project.
>
>"This is a leading Smart State project that has the potential to boost
>the Queensland economy by $5 billion and create more than 15,000 jobs,"
>Mr Beattie said.
>
>"The Federal Government has failed to deliver ultra high speed broadband
>services to the general community.
>
>"That's why our Government is stepping in to work with the private
>sector in Brisbane to address this market failure which is holding back
>business development and innovation.
>
>"At 100MB/second - at least 100 times faster than regular broadband -
>the proposed network would give householders instant access to high
>definition video such as movies - eliminating frustrating download
>times.
>
>"The network would also enable live high definition video conferencing
>between residential users from a regular desktop PC or laptop.
>
>"The fibre optic cable, which would run along existing power lines
>directly to homes and businesses, would have the capability to deliver
>the full range of telecommunications services, meaning householders
>would only be charged one access fee for broadband, telephone and pay
>television.
>
>"For businesses, industry and service providers the network would enable
>the transfer of large files, such as engineering design files, x-rays
>and large medical files."
>
>Mr Beattie said next generation broadband would also enable the
>Government to realise its investment in new and emerging industries such
>as biotechnology.
>
>"It would also give Brisbane a further competitive advantage in
>attracting new businesses and industry to the city," he said.
>
>Mr Beattie said the cable would be rolled out in the Brisbane local
>government area, using state and local government assets such as pipes,
>electricity poles and road and rail easements.
>
>"This project is possible in Brisbane because we have a supportive local
>council and State Government willing to work with the private sector and
>facilitate access to government-owned infrastructure to support the
>construction of a new network.
>
>"If the project proved successful in Brisbane, there may be future
>opportunities to roll out similar solutions across the rest of the
>state."
>
>The Coordinator-General will accept non-binding expressions of interest
>from the private sector from next month with submissions due by the end
>of January.

Jan Whitaker
JLWhitaker Associates, Melbourne Victoria
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
business: http://www.janwhitaker.com
personal: http://www.janwhitaker.com/personal/
commentary: http://janwhitaker.com/jansblog/

'Seed planting is often the most important step. Without the seed, 
there is no plant.' - JW, April 2005
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