New research at Charles Sturt University (CSU) has indicated very few Australian households feel the Federal Government’s $4.7 billion plans to improve the broadband network will help them.

 

In one of the largest public infrastructure investments in Australia, the Rudd government has committed to invest up to $4.7 billion to build the National Broadband Network (NBN).

 

Tenders to build the NBN closed on Wednesday 26 November and an independent panel of experts and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will now assess the bids.

 

A survey of over 600 households conducted by CSU Information Technology Lecturer Mr Peter Adams found that less than 20 per cent of current broadband households felt the NBN will help them, while less than 17 per cent of those without broadband could see a benefit.

 

“We found that most Australian householders have at least one computer and they think high speed broadband would be useful,” said Mr Adams.

 

“What is most interesting is a very small percentage of householders intend to connect to broadband (16 per cent) or upgrade their current internet connection (10 per cent) in the next year.

 

“The survey of both broadband and non-broadband households found over 66 per cent stated that broadband is not a priority in their household budget.

 

“This research shows while there has been a lot of work done on the supply side of providing a National Broadband Network, a lot more needs to be done to examine the demand side of what Australian households are looking for in this $4.7 billon investment of taxpayers’ money,” said Mr Adams.

 

Over 600 Australian householders with broadband, dial-up or no internet connection were asked 56 questions in the ‘Household Technology Survey’ conducted nationally in August 2008.