Archive for November, 2009

World’s Best join Tasmanian NBN test bed

Posted in Articles on November 27th, 2009 by Mark Carrington – Be the first to comment

The Tasmanian Electronic Commerce Centre (TECC) is pleased to announce a relationship with Adobe to develop new digital and network initiatives in Tasmania. The new projects will showcase the National Broadband Network and how it can benefit business, consumers and visitors to Tasmania” said John McCann, Chief Executive Officer, TECC. The MOU between the TECC and Adobe was announced at yesterday’s National Broadband Forum in Launceston, Tasmania.
“The TECC has been at the forefront over the past 12 years in seeking partnerships to help traditional businesses, regional communities and new information based businessess to better understand the potential benefits and opportunities that high speed connectivity will bring”, said Mr McCann.
 
The efforts of the TECC in bringing NBN partnerships together for Tasmania reflects the State and Federal governments desire to maximise opportunities as outlined by Senator Conroy’s recent statement “The National Broadband Network will unleash a wave of improved speed, accessibility, competition and innovation to enable Australia’s digital economy. Adobe’s recently released white paper Adobe_National Broadband Network Whitepaper_Unleashing Australias Digital Potential helps demonstrate the very real ways the NBN and the development of new applications will benefit all Australians by enhancing service delivery and improving business efficiency.” 
 
The National Broadband Network: Unleashing Australia’s Digital Potential has been created to aid consumers and businesses alike. “Much of the discussion around the NBN to date has been about infrastructure, while this document is focused on how the NBN will revolutionise the way Australians work, communicate and share ideas and information” said Mr McCann.  As a company whose technology is helping to power the new digital world, the TECC is excited to be partnering and working with Adobe on projects that will establish Tasmania as a best practice leader in digital connectivity as well as seeding a range of new innovative digital applications and content.
 
For further information please contact Mr John McCann CEO TECC on Ph 03 6211 0400 or email mccann@tecc.com.au

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Tasmanian Government Launches Hybrid Smart Street Project

Posted in Articles on November 26th, 2009 by Mark Carrington – Be the first to comment

Tas gov logo 

Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett  joined Hybrid TV CEO Robbee Minicola on Wednesday 25 November 2009 to launch Hybrid SmartStreet Project to a national audience. The project is the first of many involving the State Government, which will demonstrate the value of the National Broadband Network to Tasmanian families and businesses.  The Premier’s Office released the following press release outlining the role and scope of the research project.

 
“The future is here right now in Tasmania.
 
“Hybrid SmartStreet will simulate for the first time how the NBN will bring new and innovative services to Tasmanian homes.
 
“Tasmanians who already have fibre to the premises through the State Government’s previous TasCOLT trial will be invited to participate in a 12 month SmartStreet trial.
 
“This initiative will not only allow people to better understand what the NBN will mean to their quality of life, but also allow them to influence the development of new services,” Mr Bartlett said.
 
Hybrid SmartStreet is primarily a research project. Participants will be given a TiVo media device which in addition to providing access to high definition TV, will allow access to existing broadband services via Hybrid TV’s CASPA portal.
 
These services will be delivered into people’s homes on their TV screens and accessed via a remote control.
 
“While not everyone has a computer at home, most people do have at least one TV and know how to use a basic remote control making the TV screen the perfect delivery device for broadband services.
 
“The State Government has gotten involved with the Hybrid SmartStreet project to gain a better understanding of people’s broadband behaviour, how they like to interact with this new technology and to learn about the type of services made possible by the NBN, that Tasmanians actually want in the future and would subscribe to.
 
“These results will be made public and inform future application development,” Mr Bartlett said.
 
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by the Tasmanian Government with Hybrid TV. The agreement will see the development, delivery and trial of three core government services via participants TV screens.
 
“These services will revolve around education, emergency services such as fire readiness and what to do in an emergency, and around developing a community in the home,” Mr Bartlett said.
 
Under the terms of the MoU the Tasmanian Government has committed to covering the access fee for Tastel customers (within the TasCOLT footprint) to participate in the trial, plus the cost of installation and support services.  Up to $100,000 has been allocated from within the Department of Economic Development’s existing budget.
 
“Again Tasmania is leading the way.
 
“I have said that by 2014 I want Tasmania to be the most connected place in the world and now I want to ensure we are also the leaders in how this infrastructure is used and exploited.
 
“I want this state to become the most progressive adopter of digital technology.”
 
“It is through digital technology that Tasmania can break down the social and economic barriers that exist between urban, regional and rural areas.
 
“Projects like Hybrid SmartStreet are part of that process.”

 Further information: Tasmanian Government Communications Unit

Phone: (03) 6233 6573

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Launceston City Council Investigates Underground Broadband

Posted in Articles on November 2nd, 2009 by Mark Carrington – Be the first to comment

Launceston City Council Investigates Underground Broadband

LCC header

Launceston City Council Inner City Fibre Network Project

Recently, the Launceston City Council (LCC) approached the TECC Clever Networks Project Officer, Mark Carrington, seeking information  about possible federal funding opportunities to help Council explore the use of optic fibre.

In discussions with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDT), a proposal by the Tasmanian Broadband Development Project (TBDP) team was submitted under the “Building on Broadband” element of the Australian Government’s Clever Networks program. The $100,000 in funding would be conditional on matching funds being provided towards the project from the Tasmanian Government and the LCC.

The combined funds were used to leverage the LCC’s feasibility study into utilisation of redundant and disused buried assets to create a conduit system capable of supporting an inner city fibre network. Once constructed, the LCC plans to use the network to connect up a number of Council facilities within the Launceston inner city area. Council  proposes to use a range of technologies via this network to improve management of its assets, increase security monitoring using CCTV and to enable business continuity arrangements to be implemented for a number of Council systems and services.

Subject to capacity requirements of the conduit system and final cable configuration it is anticipated that there could be future capability to offer third party access across the network infrastructure.

The project will be undertaken in three stages. The first involves finalising the network route and reaching agreements with third parties regarding collocation arrangements for various sections of conduit system.

The second phase involves the construction work necessary to make the conduit network “fit for purpose”. Once complete it will be capable of housing a distributed optic fibre network. This will also involve installation of “lead in” sections to enable connection to the various Council facilities and equipment installed along the network route. The final phase involves testing and then commissioning the conduit network and the installation of the fibre optic cable.

An independent consultant, Robyn Phillips was commissioned to write a case study on the project. A copy of the case study can be found here.

To see an example of how LCC undertook activities for Stage 1,
the following images detail how the LCC works crew utilised high pressure water hoses to minimise environment impacts when locating and exposing old underground assets.

The old water main has been located, using accurate LCC asset records. The LCC infrastructure group can draw on  information about the City’s asset location from  original works diaries, stemming from the 1890’s!

LCC BOB

The section of road is then removed.

LCC BOB 2

High pressure water hoses are used to minimise any environmental factors such as dust, noise and heritage damage.

LCC BOB 3

The water main (laid in 1903) is now fully exposed,

LCC BOB 4

LCC BOB 5

A section of the old pipe is removed, ready for the optic fibre underground camera to be inserted.

LCC BOB 7

The operator now feeds the optic fibre containing the camera into the pipe. Camera images can now be received and recorded.

Although there has been a build up in the disused water main, the fact that the camera can be fed through indicates that scouring the pipe is achievable to allow optic fibre cable to be inserted.

The LCC has advised the TBDP office that all inspection activity is now complete and the next step to draw up the specifications for the remedial works has commenced. This is expected to be completed and approved by the TBDP office in January 2009 so that field works can commence in early February.

Negotiations have commenced between the LCC and the State government’s strategic telecommunications partner Aurora Energy Pty Ltd
(Aurora Telecommunications Group) to examine ways to incorporate the project into a wider fibre optic network for the greater Launceston City area.

For further information on the project, please contact Mark Carrington
on Ph 03 6211 0401 or David Anderson on Ph 03 6233 5781

This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government under the Clever Networks Program

This entry was posted on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 4:39 pm and is filed under Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

« Older Entries