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Despite living in the 'Digital Age, ' Australia is not currently prepared to take full advantage of the services afforded by next generation broadband, according to a research report released by the Commonwealth of Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) on Monday.
Developed by the Australian Center for Broadband Innovation ( ACBI) and CSIRO's Digital Productivity and Services Flagship, the report, named Broadband Impact and Challenges, provides fresh insights and evidence to better understand the impact and opportunities offered by next generation broadband as well as advice on the necessary steps needed to mitigate the associated risks.
The report was compiled from comprehensive community surveys, interviews with businesses and thought leaders as well as detailed analyses of existing data sources and peer-reviewed economic and social research.
"Although we are living in an increasingly 'Digital Age' full of smart devices, tele-working and social networks, one in five Australian adults still do not use the internet," Director of the Australian Center for Broadband Innovation Colin Griffith said.
"Recognizing that more and more government and business services are delivered online, a key focus of our research is to understand the behavior and capabilities of adoption and use of next generation broadband. Across the board we have found that giving more people and businesses the skills and confidence to use these broadband services effectively, will not only have a positive impact on their quality of life and business success, but also create broader economic benefits."
Interviews with industry and government stakeholders cited a lack of certainty about the future rollout of Australia's broadband infrastructure as being a significant barrier in helping them prepare for the future.
"The debate around our national broadband infrastructure has predominately focused on cost and scale," Griffith said.
The report also includes a number of key insights to help prepare for some of the potential threats which next generation broadband may bring.
"Along with its many benefits, next generation broadband will also create challenges for Australia, accelerating disruption to businesses, jobs and services. If we are to mitigate the potential threats then active leadership at all levels of society and across different organizations is needed to ensure that there is strategic investment in capacity building and innovation to help safeguard our digital future," Griffith said.
"Ultimately, it is the capabilities of every person and business that will determine the overall level of benefit realized for Australia in terms of jobs, improvement in productivity and quality of life."
