Connected Tasmania – A 21st Century Digital Research Agenda

The rollout of the high speed broadband network in Tasmania will bring with it opportunity for the R&D sector to become major users of and innovators in broadband. What impact can this have on R&D activities in rural and regional Tasmania – in field based research and in linkages to major industry sectors?

The Inaugural Forum was jointly launched by the Premier of Tasmania, the Hon David Bartlett MHA and the University Vice Chancellor, Professor Daryl Le Grew, on Tuesday 21 April 2009 at the University Staff Club, Hobart Campus.

(L – R: John McCann CEO TECC, Premier David Bartlett and Vice Chancellor Prof Daryl Le Grew)

Both Daryl and David spoke of the potential opportunities surrounding the National Broadband Network (NBN) debate and the advantages for Tasmania in being selected as the first State to commence the national  optic fibre roll out.  Both urged the Tasmanian research community to embrace and take advantage of new opportunities and to  be part of the digital transformation that is occurring in Tasmania.

The forum is one of a series being conducted by the Tasmania Electronic Commerce Centre, an applied research organisation jointly owned by the State Government and the University of Tasmania.

The TECC was engaged by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDT) to work collaboratively with the University of Tasmania Research Office, to conduct Research Forum workshops which will be targeted at the individual researcher level in the School/Faculty level at UTAS.

The Research Forum (and the follow up workshops) will inform researchers of the need to be aware of the opportunities and to be involved in some of the leading projects associated with digital development.  To pre-register your interest in attending future forums, please register online at http://tecc.eventbrite.comDetails regarding venue and times will be automatically advised to participants when confirmed later on.  The primary objective is to increase the level of focus across the Tasmanian research and tertiary education sectors on the opportunities that may arise from the broadband developments being planned for the State.

The TECC arranged a group  key speakers/facilitators to engage with UTAS researchers to achieve the following objectives

• To increase the level of focus across the Tasmanian research and tertiary education sectors on the opportunities that may arise from the broadband developments planned for the State.

• Elevate awareness of the various broadband developments planned for Tasmania across the research and tertiary education sector.

• Encourage discussion around opportunities that could arise through the increased access to high speed broadband in suburban, regional and rural Tasmania for R&D activities and ongoing field based research.

• Use access to broadband as a means of linking R&D sector to major industry sectors.

• Identify specific opportunities (ie eHealth, education, smart communities and business innovation) that could be pursued in the short to medium term.

• Build on UTAS research links between the national research agenda, the private sector and the Tasmanian research community.

The overall feeling from the Forum  was that  of purposeful and postive discussions, with a group of 80 participants attending from UTAS, industry and government.

To pre-register your interest in attending future forums, please register online at http://tecc.eventbrite.com

Once registered, confirmation of the exact date/venue can be automatically advised to delegates.

The Tasmanian State government has appointed the TECC to undertake a pilot wireless scoping study and trial, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the technology to develop appropriate business case models for potential telecommunications applications, services and devices.

The results could well influence other potential deployments of  other Wi-Fi locations across the State.

The Sullivans Cove/Salamanca Waterfront precinct in Hobart was selected because it provides access to a wide cross section of the cultural and business community, business. The lifestyle characteristics that exist in the Waterfront are also present across several other locations around the State.

The TECC expects the learnings from the trial will be a valuable resource to assist with the future expected demand for wireless deployments across regional and metropolitan Tasmania.

While the technology is becoming more reliable and cheaper to deploy, the
real benefits will be in how to capture the knowledge gained from the trial for the Tasmanian community. There will be potential opportunities
for involvement, interaction and innovation using a technology that’s rapidly becoming identified  as one of the defining characteristics of emerging intelligent and innovative cities worldwide.

An additional outcome would be an understanding of the content and services being sought by the increasingly tech savvy Tasmanian  consumers and visitors alike.

The TECC is  liaising with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism to conduct the project. The first of a series of Stakeholder meetings with traders and tourist operators from the waterfront precinct regarding the project was held  on 21 April 2009.

For further information, please contact John McCann CEO on
Ph 03 6211 0400 or email mccann@tecc.com.au

This Case Study illustrates how the Clever Networks program has brought together all levels of government in the investigation and installation of optic fibre cable in Australia‟s third oldest City, Launceston. By re-using a legacy infrastructure left from early civic leaders nearly 150 years ago, the Launceston City Council‟s approach aims to be carbon neutral, sustainable and environmentally sensitive.
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