NSW Govt to fund NBN apps research

The NSW Government has committed $7.5 million to help set up a new broadband centre tasked with researching future applications to run on the National Broadband Network.

The Australian Centre for Broadband Innovation concept was announced in Sydney's north-west today.

It would open next year and be built up over the next three years with joint finance from the Government, CSIRO and National ICT Australia (NICTA).

The centre would employ about 20 people and focus on digital media, telehealth, infrastructure and e-government applications.

It was also expected to link up with other research and state government initiatives, such as the NBN testbed at Parkbridge Estate in Sydney's southwest.

The Parkbridge testbed was a six-month trial of apps on a 100 Mbps fibre network.

The trial was expected to run until the end of this year and involve around 40 households.