Media Release: BUDGET DELIVERS BROADBAND REVOLUTION

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PREMIER

DATE: Wednesday, May 4, 2005

BUDGET DELIVERS BROADBAND REVOLUTION

The State Government’s $89 million SmartOne initiative will trigger a massive investment in new broadband infrastructure across Victoria with far reaching benefits for all, the Premier, Steve Bracks, said today.

Visiting Upper Plenty Primary School, Mr Bracks said the initiative would result in the upgrade of more than half the existing Telstra network, delivering major benefits not only for schools but also for businesses and communities across the State.

“SmartOne will drive the biggest improvement in telecommunications since the digitisation of telephone exchanges in the 1980s,” he said.

“The Government’s increased broadband use will see Telstra deliver over $100 million in telecommunications infrastructure throughout Victoria over the next three years.”

Mr Bracks said SmartOne highlighted the Victorian Government’s continued commitment to growing the whole State.

“The provision of optical fibre broadband to all Government schools will significantly improve broadband speeds by up to 60 times,” he said.

“In order to meet the needs of schools under the SmartOne initiative, Telstra, as the Government’s contracted data supplier, will upgrade around 700 exchanges – 600 in rural and regional Victoria.

“SmartOne will lay the foundation to allow other Government service providers, such as water authorities and councils, to reap the benefits of improved broadband infrastructure - local businesses, communities and families will follow.”

Telstra Business and Government Group Managing Director, David Thodey, said Telstra was delighted to commit to delivering increased broadband investment to significantly improve the learning resources available to Victorian school children.

“The project will extend Telstra's $500 million annual commitment to infrastructure in Victoria, ensuring schools in the state have access to world-class telecommunications solutions and networks,” Mr Thodey said.

Treasurer John Brumby said regional communities could soon enjoy the flow on benefits of high speed internet access.

“The roll out of this network will provide one of the most comprehensive optical fibre networks in Australia, enabling businesses in rural and regional Victoria to have access to the best available broadband infrastructure on offer,” he said.

“When completed, this network will provide businesses with the choice to locate almost anywhere in Victoria and to gain access to the best possible telecommunications infrastructure.”

Information and Communication Technology Minister, Marsha Thomson, said the Bracks Government’s aggregated telecommunications policy, TPAMS, had achieved the best overall commercial terms for telecommunications procurement in Australia, which had made the SmartOne initiative possible.

“Through TPAMS and other strategies contained in the Government’s Broadband Framework, we have been able to increase the use of broadband technologies,” Ms Thomson said.

“This initiative will potentially allow utilisation of the latest technology to deliver improved services to the community and Victorian families.

“It means Victoria is truly the smartest state when it comes to broadband access.”

Education Services Minister Jacinta Allan said the Government had been investing in the latest technology for schools to give all students, no matter where they lived, the opportunities they need to get the best start in life.

Ms Allan said within four years every Government school would be connected to four megabits fibre optic bandwidth per second.

“No other Government education system in the country has fibre optic technology connected to every school,” Ms Allan said.