| Will Broadband Save Australia When The Resources Boom Goes Bang? | |
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Thursday, 22 November 2007
13:00-14:00 | |
Speakers: Martin Gutberlet, Nick Ingelbrecht, Robin Simpson
Location: Session Room E
Session Type: Great Debate
Track: NTS | |
The debate about the government's "Australia Connected" broadband infrastructure program has been full of acrimony and claims and counter claims from the many different vested interests about who should build it, the suitability of the technologies, the neccessary regulatory environment and the likely success of the program. Implicit in all the controversy is the assumption that a national broadband network will actually bring opportunity and prosperity to citizens no matter where they live, kick-start the development of an information economy, and reduce our reliance on the mineral resources boom which must surely end soon.
Do we actually need a national broadband infrastructure to ensure the economic future or our nation? If so, can we really rely on private enterprise to build it and operate it without draconian regulations? Or is this one area where Public-Private Partnership might actually work? Or should the government just build and operate it for the benefit of all, just like they once did for water, gas and electricity?
Three of Gartner's leading analysts from Australia and around the world will fiercely debate this hot topic and ask the audience to vote electronically for their different positions. |
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