AIIA's NBN MOU, don't LOL, it's serious dough

Beverley Head
Wednesday, 03 August 2011 17:46

IT Industry - Strategy

The Australian Information Industry Association has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work with Federal Government to develop and promote the digital economy which is expected to develop as the national broadband network rolls out.

While there is no financial component to the MOU, the intention is to accelerate demand for applications which could catapault Australia to become one of the world's top five digital economies by 2020.

Already according to a study conducted for Google by Deloitte Access Economics, the internet directly contributes $50 billion to the Australian economy. The Government, which set out its Digital Economy strategy in May, clearly wants that to grow substantially.

Announced at an AIIA event in Sydney today the MOU will initially encourage technology vendors working on the digital hubs programme, which is being set up in 40 of the first NBN sites, to demonstrate the benefits of high speed networking.

But the MOU will also see government and industry attempt to bridge the digital divide - encouraging individuals and businesses not on the internet now to move online and explore their options.

Newly installed AIIA CEO Susanne Campbell said in a media release that; 'According to the ABS we've still got over a quarter of the population barely using the internet and approximately 75 per cent of businesses have no way of taking online orders despite the accelerating trend of customers preferring to engage online.'

While there are many businesses slow to make the move - particularly among the SME cohort - big business can hardly wait for the increased speed and capability of the NBN.