Developing Next Generation Broadband Infrastructure: Learning from Australia's National Broadband Network
Project funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (Canada) October 2009 - September 2010
This is a collaborative research project investigating the development of next generation broadband networks in Canada and Australia. It will produce case studies of public-funded wholesale broadband networks in Alberta, Canada (the Alberta SuperNet) and Tasmania, Australia and encourage the development of longer term collaboration among international researchers interested in telecommunications policy and broadband infrastructure development.
Research Team
Catherine Middleton, Canada Research Chair, Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
Jock Given, Professor of Media and Communications, Institute for Social Research, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
Publications and Other Research Outputs
 Publications
Audio Visual Material
Media Coverage
Hanging by a Fibre, Background Briefing, ABC Radio National, 1 August 2010
Telstra Split, Saturday Extra, ABC Radio National, 24 October 2009
Broadband: Historic Parallels, Saturday Extra, ABC Radio National, 11 April 2009
Broadband End Game, Saturday Extra, ABC Radio National, 24 May 2008
Context
This international collaboration is motivated by the Australian government’s April 2009 announcement to build a national broadband network (NBN) extending fibre-to-the-premises technology to 90% of Australian households and improved wireless technology to the remaining 10%. The geographic, political, historical and cultural similarities between Australia and Canada mean that research exploring the comparative experiences of broadband network development in the two countries is likely to be valuable. Despite general similarities, the contrast between the two countries’ approaches to next generation infrastructure is stark. The Australian Government is investing heavily. The Canadian federal government is not, although the Alberta SuperNet, a publicly-supported fibre network reaching all communities in the province, has been operating since 2005.
Research Programme
The initial research focus on Alberta and Tasmania has expanded to include the wholesale fixed line broadband networks being built with government support in New Zealand and Singapore. Interviews have been conducted with representatives in all four locations.
Project Outcomes
A paper proposed about the broadband networks in Australia, Alberta, New Zealand and Singapore has been accepted for the Telecommunications Policy Research Conference at George Mason University School of Law, Arlington, Virginia in October 2010.
A special issue of the journal Communication Politics and Culture on the topic ‘Broadband: Policy, Innovation, Use’ was published in July 2010.
Jock Given’s article discussing the McKinsey/KPMG NBN Implementation Study, May 2010:
Further publications will appear in refereed journals
Links
NBN Co Ltd
Next Generation Connectivity: a review of broadband internet transitions and policy from around the world, Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, February 2010:
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