Australia-Korea-New Zealand Broadband Summit

Adelaide will play host to the third Australia-Korea-New Zealand Broadband Summit on the 7-8 December 2006 which will bring together some of the best and brightest from all three countries to discuss the economic importance of broadband and its applications, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, said today.

"The Summit is an opportunity for Australian ICT businesses to develop new relationships and look for opportunities to work with businesses in Korea and New Zealand," Senator Coonan said.

"It is also a valuable opportunity for the three countries to share knowledge and information about how high-speed networks and the applications they support can underpin our collective economic growth.

"Australia, New Zealand and Korean research institutions will also use the Summit to network on leading edge issues, as well as commercialize output of their research and development work.

"I have invited the Korean and New Zealand IT Ministers to attend the Summit and I look forward to working together in December."

Previous summits have assisted companies from all three countries to establish new business. Industry associations have also developed written protocols with counterparts which smooth the way for further business development.

Korean companies will be looking for access to innovative applications and content developed by Australian and New Zealand companies. Australian and New Zealand companies will be exploring opportunities to market their products to Korean companies.

Senator Coonan will deliver the keynote address at the Summit on December and talk about moves to ensure Australia becomes a world leader in the effective use of broadband.

"More and more Australians are connecting to the Internet via fast broadband so much so that Australia is now only second out of 30 countries in the OECD in terms of growth in broadband take-up," Senator Coonan said.

"Couple this with the Australian Government's investment of $3.1 billion through Connect Australia package and we are on the verge of ensuring that all Australians can share in the benefits that broadband can bring."

Further information about the AKNZ Broadband Summit can be found by calling Summit Convenor, Mike Miller, on (08) 8379 2971.