Tasmanian Government pumps $1m into promoting NBN to businesses

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 27 July 2010 16:10

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

The Tasmanian Government has provided $1m to help a coalition of Tasmanian business organisations promote the NBN and its applications to Tasmanian businesses.

The state's four peak business groups - the Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania (TICT), the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA), the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) and the Tasmanian Small Business Council (TSBC) - have formed the NBN4Business alliance.

The State Government says it $1-million cash injection will help NBN4Business raise awareness - especially through 17 information workshops to be held across Tasmania over the next three months.

Tasmanian premier, David Bartlett, said: "The roll-out of optic fibre will make Tasmania the most connected place on the planet by 2014. That brings incredible advantages for local businesses, in terms of developing and promoting their products in the new digital economy."

He said that NBN4Business would provide "a one-stop-shop of support and information, reaching thousands of members and businesses around Tasmania."

Bartlett has just returned form a trip to the US where he met representatives of Google, Microsoft and Cisco. He said that, as a result of the trip "I'm more inspired and excited than ever about the unique advantages for Tasmania, from the optic fibre roll-out. Whether it's in E-Health, virtual classroom technology, or Smart Grids to cut power use and household bills, we can lead the way in coming years.

"These are the sorts of cutting-edge technologies that companies like Cisco, Microsoft, and Google are focussing on - and they now recognise Tasmania's clear advantages as a place to do business."

The NBN4Business group has its own website (www.nbn4business.net.au) and says that applications for iPhones and iPads will soon be available.