Telstra receives award for delivering high-speed broadband to Arnhem Land

Telstra’s work to deliver high-speed broadband to over 10,000 people living in remote communities in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory was recognised at the Australian Telecommunications Users Group (ATUG) 2009 Excellence Awards last night.

Telstra’s Broadbanding the Top End project received the Best Communications Initiative for large business’, and recognised the partnership between the Northern Territory Government, Rio Tinto Alcan, the Northern Land Council and Telstra to deliver the $34 million project in late 2008.

“This initiative embraced broadband delivery to some of the most remote communities in the country, across some of the most inhospitable terrain,” Geoff Booth, head of Telstra Country Wide said.

"The opportunities from the laying of the cable for Indigenous Australians, for local businesses, for schools, for the mining community, and for health care centres are significant. For example, health care centres in these communities will be able to use video conferencing to consult with other parts of Australia, as well as sending scans to test for diagnosis.

“In December last year, a Traditional Indigenous Ceremony was held 40kms north east of Jabiru in Kakadu National Park to mark the laying of the cable from Jabiru and Nhulunby. This celebrated bringing 21st century telecommunications technology to Arnhem Land,” Mr Booth said.

“This project was a unique multi-party partnership, that installed 800kms of fibre in a matter of months, providing the first operational services within six months of the start of the project,” Michael Rocca, head of Telstra Network and Services said.

“Our work in Arnhem land further demonstrates Telstra’s ability to build to complex world-class telecommunications infrastructure required to advance communities around Australia,” Mr Rocca said.

Northern Territory’s Minister for Information, Communications and Technology Policy Karl Hampton said, “This award acknowledges the importance of this joint project which is transforming communications for the people of the Arnhem region. High-speed broadband will be a boost for education, health and business services for the region.”