NBN Co has responded to Australians' rapidly shifting needs during the pandemic. The recent acceleration in rollout, the mixed technology solution and ongoing upgrades have led to improved coverage, faster internet speeds and more reliability.7 Its 2021-2024 Corporate Plan shows NBN Co's commitment to further improvements.8 The priorities include line upgrades that bring the fibre network closer to the home, improving connections in regional Australia and investing in new technologies to deliver ultra-fast speeds to millions of premises. Together, these activities will provide more coverage, faster average speeds, uniform basic service levels and better reliability.
Smart cities Urban areas that use different sensors and technologies to collect data to improve liveability, sustainability and movement. Internet of Things The growing number of devices connected to the internet, from sensors to appliances and wearables, all connected together. |
In addition to NBN Co's progress, innovation continues to transform Australia's digital landscape. Digital transformation, 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT) are revolutionising everything from traffic management, environmental impacts and waste management to energy consumption and agribusiness.9
At the same time, IoT technology solutions applied in smart cities can use digital technologies to enhance urban services by improving quality and performance and reducing cost and resource use.
With so much changing so fast, there need to be more alignment, coordination and standardisation between the telecommunications sector, other industries and governments. This will avoid wasteful duplication of effort, unlock economy-wide benefits and ensure every Australian can join the digital revolution.