Time to talk about what broadband will do, says report

Tuesday 3rd May 2011 1 Comment

Broadband services will improve the relationship between citizens and government, according to a report commissioned by Huawei New Zealand undertaken by former UK government adviser Tim Williams.

Williams applied the experience of broadband in the United Kingdom to New Zealand and concluded it would improve education and health outcomes and empower people, including the elderly and those living in remote communities.

"Public servants and politicians are having to be more responsive, more immediately because of the instantaneous interactivity of fast broadband - and this is empowering people," the report said.

Williams said politicians needed to move on from talking about tenders for broadband services to talking about what the technology could do for New Zealand.

The report recommends the setting up of a New Zealand Institute for a Broadband Enabled Society, the appointment of a national digital champion and online concession passes for those aged over 65.

The report has a chapter on the advantages of broadband for "silver surfers" and said volunteers could "buddy up" with the elderly online. It also sees a need for a Maori digital champion.

A national digital action plan should set targets for "digital literacy".

Faster and faster broadband would improve public services and outcomes for people and the relationship between citizens and their governments, the report says.

NZPA

Comments from our readers

On 4 May 2011 at 5:14 pm Martin said:

Huawei. Is that the compant the Indian Govt refused to do business with due to concerns over call interception? Perhaps a different 'report' should be commissioned first.