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Chapter 9 - Coordination with other inquiries
9.1 Estens Regional Telecommunications Inquiry
The Estens Regional Telecommunications Inquiry report Connecting Regional Australia was released on 8 November 2002. The inquiry was established to review the adequacy of telecommunications services, including higher bandwidth services, to regional, rural and remote Australia and to examine whether additional arrangements are required to ensure all Australians share in the existing and future opportunities presented by telecommunications.
The Inquiry found that broadband communications are becoming vital for the economic development of regional Australia, but users in some areas pay more for certain services than their metropolitan counterparts.
There is consistency between the finding of the Estens' inquiry and the recommendations of this Report.
It is essential that any initiatives to be implemented in regional, rural and remote Australia are coordinated with the proposed National Broadband Strategy and the national strategic plan for the deployment of broadband infrastructure.
9.2 Wireless Inquiry
The House of Representatives Communications Committee report Connecting Australia! Wireless Broadband tabled on 11 November 2002 reports on the current and potential use of wireless technologies in delivering broadband communication services to Australia, including regional locations.
The Inquiry found that wireless technologies have considerable potential for providing 'last mile' solutions, especially in regional areas. It is increasingly widely recognised that wireless technologies have an important role in the deployment of broadband services, particularly in regional areas. This highlights the necessity for wireless ISPs to connect seamlessly to the internet backbone. Consistent with one of the Inquiry's recommendations, the possibility of carrier licensing arrangements being a barrier to entry should be investigated.
While developments in wireless technologies are emerging as significant, it should be recognised that wireless technologies are just one solution to the national broadband infrastructure and should be considered as such in strategic investment decision-making.
9.3 ICT Framework for the Future
An important element of the Federal Government's ongoing strategy for the ICT sector in Australia is the development of an ICT Framework for the Future. The Framework will result in a shared Government-industry understanding of the challenges facing Australia's ICT sector, and a context for identifying strategies to address these challenges. The Framework will build on existing innovation initiatives, such as the recently established ICT Centre of Excellence and other initiatives announced in Backing Australia's Ability.
The Framework's development has been overseen by a high level Steering Committee established in March 2002, chaired by the Minister for Communications IT and the Arts. The Committee is due to report to the Government in the near future. The Committee includes leading members of the ICT industry and other areas critical to the future development of Australia's ICT sector, such as the research and academic communities. The Steering Committee has received a wide range of input from industry stakeholders through a variety of mechanisms, including a series of public industry forums in all state and territory capitals.
The Steering Committee, with the assistance of two working groups, has mapped the domestic ICT industry and examined major global technology, business and social trends relevant to the ICT sector. This process was supported by a study by McKinsey & Company into key sectoral trends within the global ICT industry and the implications of these trends for Australia.
Initial findings of the Steering Committee confirm that an effective ICT capability is imperative to our future economic growth, as it is a key enabling technology for all industries and for innovation. Clear potential exists for Australia to develop global ICT specialists in a number of areas on a focussed innovation base. With the right infrastructure, including broadband, the industry could capture opportunities where ICT intersects with other technologies such as biotechnology, nano-and materials technologies, and in emerging application areas.