Businesses lack expertise to exploit NBN

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 19 January 2012 07:04

Business IT - Networking

Forty five percent CEOs of a wide range of businesses have responded to a survey by saying they lack the skills and capabilities to take advantage of the NBN. Three years ago the figure was only 20 percent.

This response has prompted the organisers of the survey, The Australian Industry Group and Deloitte, to call for new government programs "to boost understanding by small-to-medium businesses in particular on the opportunities provided by a national broadband network."

The Australian Industry Group National CEO Report, sponsored by Deloittes, surveyed 540 CEO of businesses of all sizes across the manufacturing, services and construction sectors.

Their report said: "This finding may suggest that, as businesses have become more aware of the opportunities and applications that will become available to them once the broadband network is in place, they have become significantly less confident that they are presently able to take full advantage of them."

It said also that only 30 percent of businesses reported having a high or medium degree of information about the practical impact of faster broadband speeds. To remedy the situation respondents said they would resort to staff training and hiring.