Australia (Commonwealth Union) – The telecommunications sector plays a crucial role across the world in staying connected, providing employment and many more activities in most sectors. A nation’s development is heavily linked to its telecommunication sector with the need for high-speed internet and other communication devices.
A first of its kind Australian project led by The Australian National University (ANU), is set to take a complete look at the resilience of the nation’s telecommunications sector. The project received funds from the Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA). The independent study is set to be carried out by the ANU Tech Policy Design Centre.
ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt indicated that telecommunications are essential for all other sectors in the nation’s economy further elaborating that it drives economic growth, national productivity and innovation, while letting Australians stay connected both locally and globally. He also indicated that the halting of telecommunications and digital services makes the country stop.
“I’m pleased to announce the ANU Tech Policy Design Centre will lead an independent study into the resilience of the sector. This is an issue of vital importance to the nation and all Australians,” said Professor Schmidt. “As the national university ANU works tirelessly to serve the nation every day — and this detailed examination of a fundamental sector for Australia is an excellent example of that.”
The ANU-led project is set to approach stakeholders of governments, industry, utility providers, emergency services, the risk and disaster management community as well as academia to form an all-inclusive risk and resilience outline of the nation’s telecommunications sector. Project lead Professor Johanna Weaver, Director of the ANU Tech Policy Design Centre stated that the 2019-20 bushfires, the pandemic, floods and cyber incidents were just a small number of examples of recent occurrences to put the sector to the test.
