Fibre Broadband As A Human Right?

Labour's Communications Spokesperson is asking whether Broadband should be viewed as a basic right like water or electricity? I am a huge supporter of the power of broadband to transform communities and economies. There is no doubt that good quality broadband can revolutionise education, health and help integrate communities. However, policy-makers will need to consider what the alternative uses are for between $2billion and $9billion of investment. More importantly they will need to consider exactly how the nation's productivity will be raised through such investment.

There is no doubt that the risk of a new digital divide is significant. There is also little doubt in my mind that government leadership will be important. But we also need to make sure that NZ Inc does not squander this opportunity to build a high-productivity hi-tech economy. Our children's generation will not thank us for bequeathing to them a large debt without commensurate returns from wise investments. Rather than debating whether we should make it a human right - perhaps we should just get on and do those basic things that most of us know will be required in any case - for example improved international connectivity, improved open-access fibre backhaul, abolition of the TSO Levy, and a national stocktake of existing ducting to identify gaps which can then aid in rapid fibre deployment?

Britain to unveil digital future - technology | Stuff.co.nz

Britain to unveil digital future - technology | Stuff.co.nz
UK getting in on Broadband act.

Vodafone: Let's work together - Broadband - NZ Herald News

Vodafone: Let's work together - Broadband - NZ Herald News
Vodafone has contributed innovative solutions to the challenge of improving Broadband for NZ Inc.

disclaimer: the writer is employed by Vodafone NZ the opinions expressed are his and do not necessarily represent those of Vodafone.

Step Change Needed in Economic Performance

New Zealand needs a step change in economic performance if it is to raise the living standards of all its people and to afford the increasingly expensive healthcare treatments now available. In addition we also have a large number of baby-boomers coming through the system to retirement during the next two decades.

Productivity growth, adoption of hi-tech production methods and lower income tax rates are all part of the policy mix required. We also need to agree and implement a NZ Broadband Strategy and build links between our education system, job training and the global marketplace in a way that encourages kiwi companies to remain headquartered here and to be smart about retention of Intellectual Property rights here in New Zealand.

Whichever parties are involved in forming the next government should probably consider convening a NZ Summit of the type David Lange convened after the 1984 election. We need to debate and agree some key national goals and then set about achieving them.

Embracing the Digital Change

Thursday, November 29, 2007

This week over 500 leaders from telecommunications, IT, education, youth, iwi, and government gathered at the Digital Future Summit held at the Hyatt Regency in Auckland to help chart the way forward for ICT in New Zealand.

Among the array of talent presenting were: Barry Vercoe, professor of Music and Media Arts And Sciences at Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA and expat from Paeroa; David Cunliffe, Minister of Communications; Deputy Prime Minister, Michael Cullen, Minister of Broadcasting, Trevor Mallard; Sean McDougal, MD of Stakeholder Design; and Chris Anderson, Editor-in-Chief Wired plus a host of other luminaries from industry, commerce, government and education.

Prof Barry Vercoe discussed the internationally respected One laptop per child programme led by MIT. In brief the programme enables access to the Internet so that creativity and innovation are encouraged rather than stifled. He discussed ways in which laptops costing no more than $100 were made available to schoolchildren in the Solomon Islands. An e-learning community is then built by networking the laptops together.

We saw the responses and enthusiasm for learning as kids got to have their own laptop and to explore the Internet for themselves. In today's world we all need to be familiar with digital technology if we are going to have a say and have a role to play. We need to ensure that there are no pockets of New Zealand where children are left on the wrong side of the digital divide through lack of income or because they happen to live in the wrong part of the country.

Parents can draw real support from access to broadband and good information about parenting resources. Parents also need to be aware of the some of the risks associated with the Internet. Hectors World and other work by groups like Netsafe are all part of the pack of resources with which parents need to be empowered if we are to equip our children with the tools necessary to prosper in the 21st century while at the same time minimising risks from harmful elements in the Internet world. Amidst the many changes and uncertainties created by rapid technological change one thing is certain. To succeed in the 21st century we need to be able to use the power and capacity of the new ICT tools with the ease and confidence that children today are displaying. This applies across generations as well as between socio-economic groups and nation states.

For more details on the summit itself refer to http://www.digitalsummit.org.nz/.

Posted by Roger Ellis at 4:27 PM
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