Sydney University's Dr Melissa Gregg travels to Willunga, South Australia to canvas attitudes to technology and the national broadband network as the first fibre gets deployed on Australia's mainland.
on Feb 28 2011 3:58PM
Welcome to picturesque Willunga, South Australia, where Dr Melissa Gregg is conducting a “baseline” study of resident attitudes to technology and the NBN prior to the first release site switching on services later this year.
Dr Gregg aims to ask ordinary Australians their opinions on the NBN. The baseline could potentially serve as a point of comparison should studies be done on the town’s populace after several years or indeed generations have been connected to high-speed broadband.
NBN Co’s third party contractor partners have already commenced fibre roll-outs.
The roll-out of fibre is well underway.
An NBN Co pit open on the side of a Willunga street.
NBN Co claims that over 90 percent of Willunga residents have consented to fibre being run to the perimeter of their properties.
No doubt the local tech community will see an uptick in business.
Equally as important, Dr Gregg has discussed the NBN opportunity with micro-businesses.
Young people are also keen on better broadband services.
And Dr Gregg said economic and technical arguments to date haven’t stated the importance of connectivity to not-for-profit organisations.
Dr Gregg said Willunga is a perfect mix of farmers, small business, hippies, retirees and professionals.
Beyond the economic metrics, Dr Gregg wants to study whether high speed broadband simply makes regional Australia a better place to live.
Welcome to picturesque Willunga, South Australia, where Dr Melissa Gregg is conducting a “baseline” study of resident attitudes to technology and the NBN prior to the first release site switching on services later this year.