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Digital River - Fast Tracking Broadband Access Print this Article Print this Article
  What is Digital River?
Digital River is an innovative collaboration between business and government, to fast-track development of a Broadband/High Speed Internet Services Market for use by Victorian and Melbourne-based small to medium enterprises.

Why was Digital River created?
The Program was founded in 2000 by the Committee for Melbourne following increasing concern by Melbourne's leading business figures, at the failure of the telecommunications market to provide Melbourne with affordable, high speed, easily accessible, digital access, or "broadband."

This problem directly impacts on Melbourne's ability to attract overseas investment, and the city's capacity to develop business in new and emerging industries.

In response to this problem, the Committee for Melbourne has joined forces with City of Melbourne, Melbourne Docklands Authority, Australian Property Council (Vic) and the Building Commission, to undertake an initiative, which formed the "The Digital River Program".

By generating and supporting projects that accelerate the take-up of broadband services by Government and small-to-medium enterprise in Victoria, businesses will be able to connect to high quality digital services, enabling:

E-Commerce
E-Learning
Broadband Applications & Services
Connectivity and Inter-working
Virtual Communities

This integrated approach to a digital infrastructure will contribute significantly to Melbourne's growth and prosperity by enhancing its attraction for investment and the location and development of business.

Digital River addresses the areas of access and cost, applications and content, and connectivity and inter-working, and looks to build a sustainable competitive advantage for Melbourne through the collaborative efforts of Government, not-for-profit and commercial organisations.

Digital River initiates and supports projects that accelerate the establishment of a vibrant and diversified Broadband Services Marketplace.

The first of these projects is the Digital Building Telecommunications Access Guideline (DBTAG).

Launch of the Digital Building Telecommunications Access Guideline
The Program was accelerated in August last year, with the official launch of the DBTAG and the opening of the Digital River Broadband Technology Suite by The Hon Marsha Thomson MP, Victorian Minister for Information and Communications Technology and Minister for Small Business.

"Digital River is playing an active and important role in bulldozing the barriers to growth of broadband technologies, particularly by small and medium sized businesses and is commended on this and other initiatives," she said.

Who is involved?
The founding members are City of Melbourne, Melbourne Docklands Authority, Committee for Melbourne, Property Council of Australia, Building Commission, Digital Harbour and Versitec Consulting.

Digital River Telecommunications Access Guideline
This Guideline has been developed by the Digital River Program with the City of Melbourne taking the lead, in consultation with property owners, building management and telecommunications carriers.

It consists of technical and regulatory information for property owners, building management and tenants. These Guidelines provide an access framework that supports the objectives of Digital River.

To view the Digital Building Telecommunications Access Guideline. Please visit www.digitalriver.net.

Digital River Broadband Technology Suite
The second project is the Demonstration Building Project, the "Digital River Broadband Technology Suite", which is located on level 8 at Casselden Place, 2 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.

The first commercial building serving as a demonstration consistent with best practice in telecommunications infrastructure as defined in the DBTAG; and housing the first open public access Broadband Technology Suite providing hands-on experience and demonstration of broadband technology and applications to enable business, government and education through a collaboration of participating organisations including telecommunications carriers, applications service providers, internet service providers and vendors/suppliers of broadband technology and services.

Through collaboration of industry and market organisations, the Broadband Technology Suite offers a unique opportunity to see, touch and experience the possibilities and potential of a range of broadband services and applications.

Through its educational forums, the Demonstration Building offers a unique opportunity to learn about best practice in building telecommunications access and infrastructure, and why it is relevant and important to both building owners and tenants.

The breadth of business solutions to be demonstrated will offer something for everyone, and act as a catalyst for thinking "outside the nine dots" in relation to the power and application of broadband services.

For further information on the Digital River Program, please contact
Committee for Melbourne
Phone (03) 9650 8800



 
Digital River website

 


   Copyright Committee for Melbourne, 2001