Telecommunications and the NBN Infrastructure Revolution

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According to the 2011 Deloitte Access Economics for Google report, The Connected Continent, the contribution of the Internet to the Australian economy is about $50 billion, or 3.6% of the national GDP, and this number has been increasing substantially and rapidly over the years [1]. This number also does not take into account huge savings in many areas of life made possible by the increase in productivity due to the use of high speed internet. This is the primary reason why the old telecommunications technologies, which were used back in the day when the Internet did not have so many advanced business purposes, are gradually becoming more and more obsolete.

Communication has always been one of the most significant aspects of the progress of human society and culture, and in this increasingly globalised world, telecommunication, the means of communicating by sending different types of signals over a distance using technology, is one of the principal means of progress. The first organised communications network in Australia was the postal network back in the 19th century. The first means of telecommunication dates back to the use of smoke signals, and telecommunication technologies include telegraph, radio, telephone, satelite technologies and the most recent fibre optics. The beginning of the 20th century was marked by the development of the first wireless technologies with the creation of the first radio communication technologies. The beginning of the 21st century is marked by the fast spreading of the fibre optic telecommunications network all over the globe.[2]

Most Australian households and businesses are currently still using a limited bandwidth, copper wire network which is over a century old. This network was initially designed for telephones, and the quality of the signal sent through this network decreases significantly with distance, so, by today’s standards it does not support high Internet speeds, which is one of the main requirements of modern life. This is why the Australian government started building the National Broadband Network, abbreviated as NBN. The NBN is a cutting edge fibre-optic broadband network, that is currently being built across Australia in order to provide the telecommunications infrastructure necessary for the further development of the Australian economy in today’s online business world.

NBN for Business by Macquarie Telecom [3]

With the growth of downloaded internet volume increasing by over 50% last year [4], significant investments in the development of the Australian telecommunications infrastructure, and specifically in NBN, is more timely and crucial than ever before.

The NBN service will bring an increase in internet speed of 20% up to the incredible 200% over the next decade. It has already been rolled out in most urban areas in Australia, but the plan is for the fribre optic network to cover over 93% of Australian households and businesses by the completion of the project. The new, nation-wide fibre optic network is expected to increase the effectiveness, quality and productivity of not only businesses, but also government, health and educational institutions.[5]

In today’s digitised world, it is highly important to keep in mind that the development and the application of new technologies, especially when it comes to the telecommunications infrastructure, and every investment into the development of a future-proof, strong economy, are absolutely crucial for advancement of Australia in today’s increasingly knowledge-based Australian and global economy.

References:

[1] “The Connected Continent”. Deloitte Access Economics. August 2011. Web. 10 April 2013 Available at http://connected-continent.appspot.com/media/illustrations/download.pdf
[2] “Plagiarism.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 8 April 2013. Web. 10 April 2013. Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunication
[3] “NBN for Business”. Macquarie Telecom. Web. 10 April 2013. Available at http://www.macquarietelecom.com/corporate/data-voice/nbn
[4] “Internet Activity, Australia, December 2012”. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 9 April 2013. Web. 10 April 2013. Available at http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/8153.0
[5] “Why is the NBN important?”. Australian Government, Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. Web. 10 April 2013. Available at http://www.nbn.gov.au/nbn-advertising/why-is-the-nbn-important/