Experts advise there may become a digital divide in Australia

A regional boss from global computer company IBM advised that in order to avoid the creation of a divide between the country and the city with IT and broadband, there should be more investment concentrated on outside major metropolitan areas.

Glen Boreham, the managing director of IBM Australia said that the ever increasing reliance of areas like broadband and IT would mean that putting money into what he classed as “keyboard-ready” project was as important as the building of railway lines and roads.

As the Federal Government start the building of the new National Broadband Network, which will cost around $43 billion, the will need to consider the new divide that may appear between the country and the city during the build process.

At a National Press Club in Canberra Mr Boreham said “In terms of rolling it out, I would like personally to see priority on regional and rural Australia. One of the things, quite openly, I’m concerned about, is … we need to be cognisant of … the digital divide. There are the haves and have-nots.”

The investment into “shovel-ready” projects was as important as spending on “keyboard-ready” projects said Mr Boreham.

He advised ”I do think the term `shovel-ready’ is indicative of our traditional mindset. None of us can argue with the requirements to do with our roads or our rail … but just as we need shovel-ready projects, we need keyboard-ready projects.”

He went on to advise that the investment of $6.2 billion into the car industry would be less effective and help fewer people than the $43 billion National Broadband Network would.

He said “Now I’m not suggesting for a moment that’s not the right thing to do, but $6.2 billion for protecting one industry, and we have a national broadband network that literally touches all of us – every state, every business large and small. All of us can be more productive, more efficient and more innovative.”

Source – www.news.com.au