Ipswich’s small-scale enterprises, community groups, not for profit organisations and residents will all reap the benefits from the National Broadband Network (NBN) early roll out.
Small-scale enterprises (SME’s) are set to benefit from a free program geared to help them harness opportunities arising from the early NBN roll out.
Economic Development and Sustainability Committee Chairperson Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said Ipswich City Council had secured federal funding to assist small to medium enterprises and not for profit organisations (NFP’s) to maximise the opportunities from greater digital engagement, enabled by the NBN.
“Ipswich is fortunate to have secured an important leading edge for our businesses, with the NBN providing broadband speeds that will increase by up to 100 percent.
“With the faster speeds for data transfer, this will be a great opportunity for SMEs and NFPs to take advantage of advanced technology as a leading edge for their business.” he said.
Under the Digital Enterprise Program, 50 group and 220 individual training sessions will be held over two years and will be free to eligible participants
It follows a similar successful program targeting local building and construction industry companies.
Cr Pisasale said programs such as this demonstrated council’s commitment to positioning Ipswich and the region as a leading digital community in Australia.
“Greater digital engagement will contribute enormously to our long term competitiveness and innovation,” he said.
City Council also secured federal funding to help residents and community groups harness opportunities for greater digital engagement enabled by the NBN. The Digital Hubs program will provide free digital economy skills training sessions.
Commencing on January 1, 2013, the Digital Hubs program will deliver free 384 group and 960 individual digital economy skills training sessions over two years.
“This means local residents and community groups can enjoy all the benefits that come with being on the cutting edge of advanced technology.”
The program will be jointly administered and managed by the Office of Economic Development and Ipswich Library and Information Services.
“Through the support of the Digital Hubs program, Council is taking a proactive role to position Ipswich and the region as a leading digital community in Australia,” Cr Pisasale said.
“It will contribute to the city’s long-term competitiveness, innovation and knowledge industry investment.”Cr Pisasale said
