A drive to encourage cities and regions to create their own high-speed open access broadband networks will see the inaugural Digital Cities & Regional Networks conference held in Wellington later this month.
Communications and Information Technology Minister David Cunliffe is inviting the nation's mayors, key council staff, economic development, health and education agencies to the conference, which will showcase what smart cities and regions can achieve.
"Creating a world-class broadband structure is crucial for out country's growth. In a global environment, affordable, instantaneous connections across all our cities and regions are vital.
"Cities such as Wellington have proved that high-speed networks - allowing business-to-business or institution-to-institution links - are crucial for economic growth and urban revitalisation.
"Last month, I announced details of the $24m Broadband Challenge fund which provides seed capital from government to encourage cities to develop high speed fibre networks and regions to improve their broadband infrastructure. I also outlined the Community Partnership Fund which will support grassroots ICT-related initiatives and smart ways to link content and use technology applications across communities." (See http://www.digitalstrategy.govt.nz/bbc )
The Digital Cities conference will showcase local and international success stories where cities and regions have bridged the digital divide. Costs, benefits and partnership opportunities will be explored and the application process for the Broadband Challenge and Community Partnership Fund outlined.
Keynote speakers include Lars Hedberg, founder of the Swedish Urban Network Association, a non-profit organisation of 300 companies, municipalities and members representing 200 broadband networks across Sweden. About two-third's of Sweden's 290 communities have open access to high speed broadband, making it one of the world's most connected countries. Mr Hedberg will speak to the conference via broadband video-link from Sweden.
Chairing the conference is Fran Wilde, who as Wellington's mayor helped drive the creation of the CityLink urban fibre network. She regards CityLink as essential infrastructure that has been as important to the city's growth as Westpac Stadium.
Organising the Digital Cities & Regional Networks conference is Next Generation Internet Society (NGI-NZ). Sponsors include CityLink, InternetNZ and Ministry of Economic Development with support from Local Government New Zealand, EDANZ (Economic Development Agencies), Allied Telesyn, FX Networks, Ericsson, Positively Wellington Business and 2020 Communications Trust.
The conference will be held in the Renouf Foyer, Michael Fowler Centre from 9am on Wednesday November 23. More details and registration on-line at: http://www.digitalcities.org.nz
Further information:
6 November 2005