Place and Date:  RMIT Melbourne, Tuesday 22^nd October, 2019

Time: 12.00 – 1.45pm 

Location: RMIT, 080.09.012   (Building 80, Level 9, Room 12)

(Also available via Zoom -- details below. Please note those in Sydney may like to attend at UTS room 11.12.113, as mentioned below.)

In Summary: 

How well are we tracking to achieve the original mission of the NBN of ‘Building Broadband For All Australians? Four specialist speakers will canvass many of the issues related to the provision of nationwide services and applications to enhance the lifestyle of the end users.  How might we ‘grow’ the number of new customers, and deal with the vexed issues related to those residents currently excluded from broadband? What do systematic field research investigations show about the notion of ‘digital inclusion’ as a measurement of Australia’s digital divide? Do we now need a revamped USO, together with the introduction of an affordable national broadband policy? Have customer pricing policies been a serious bottleneck to improving the rate of NBN related customer service take up – could that be changed for the better? Looking elsewhere, New Zealand has followed a different path to Australia with some notable broadband policy successes. How might we learn from their experiences?

The event will feature a short 10 minute presentation from each of the panellists, followed by audience questions and discussion around the topic. It will continue the theme of NBN Futures, and the discussion should focus on future opportunities. At the conclusion there will be light refreshments and a chance for networking.

Please register using the "Add to Cart" button below.

Zoom details for those unable to be present in person:

Topic: TelSoc NBN Future Forum
Time: Oct 22, 2019 11:45 AM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney

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https://zoom.us/j/430762199

Meeting ID: 430 762 199

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Meeting ID: 430 762 199

For interested Sydney participants:

It is possible there are members in Sydney who might wish to join in and contribute as a group to this debate. An opportunity is being made in Sydney for those interested to meet coincident with the second forum so that the level of interest in conducting a complimentary, and not duplicate, forum in Sydney, covering issues which may be of interest in Sydney, but not covered in Melbourne, can be assessed.

Details for the Sydney meeting are UTS Building 11 (FEIT, 81, Broadway) Meeting Room 11.12.113 from 12:00 noon.  Please note that refreshments will not be provided for this meeting so please bring your own supplies!

Note that access to Zoom for this forum is available to members on an individual basis and there is no need to attend the venue, albeit collegiate participation is likely to be more rewarding.

Your RSVP in relation to attendance at the UTS room in Sydney can be made via email to Peter Hitchiner at Peter.Hitchiner at telsoc.org.

SPEAKERS (in order)

Teresa Corbin, CEO of ACCAN

The original NBN concept was to provide an equitable, country-wide, single experience, with general access to the digital economy. Does this objective now need a re-vamped USO and the introduction of an affordable national broadband policy? Would an NBN Co service offered at a reasonable wholesale monthly price to those households currently receiving government financial support be an effective way to achieve near affordable broadband for all Australians? 

Murray Milner, Harmonic Analytics

What can be learnt from the New Zealand broadband policy ambition and experience? In what key ways have the Kiwis followed a different path for the development of broadband than Australia? Do Australians need to dispel the notion held by some that just a few tens of megabits per second is all that the public and business actually need or want? Most residential plans in New Zealand are now in the 100/50 category, and the marketing of plans for business are focussed around 900/450 today. How might Australia follow?

Chris Wilson, Swinburne University 

How much do we know about the end users of broadband in Australia?  The Australian Digital Inclusion Index (ADII) major national research project shows that, although on aggregate digital inclusion is improving, it still continues to follow distinct geographic, social and socio-economic contours. In general, rural and regional Australians, older Australians, and people with low levels of income, employment and education are less digitally included than their compatriots – and for some the inclusion gap is widening.             

Bob James (iMediate Consulting) 

What would mapping the apparent success to date of NBN consumer services show? Is the introduction of new pricing the key to Australia improving overall consumer affordability, and also achieving a better broadband speed global ranking?  How might we be able to emulate NZ with its global speed rankings – around 21^st – to see Australia join the 100 Mbps club and no longer rate as 60^th? And could NBN come to play a key role in our changing world where fibre and wireless are friends rather than foes in delivering consumer services?