Victoria adds another 200 jobs to NBN belt
Minister for Technology Gordon Rich-Phillips today welcomed the announcement by NBN Co of its Network Operations and Test Facility, which will bring an additional 200 jobs to Victoria.
Mr Rich-Phillips said the Victorian Coalition Government was investing in the ICT sector to ensure that the right conditions existed in Victoria to support the growth of ICT businesses and boost Victoria's digital economy.
"We are continuing to deliver on our election commitment to assist Victorian ICT businesses to take advantage of the opportunities generated by the rollout of the NBN, by facilitating and increasing engagement by local companies with NBN Co and NBN-related research institutions and organisations," Mr Rich-Phillips said.
"We recently announced a $150 million technology strategy to support the development of Victoria's technology capabilities and facilitate technology-enabled innovation across the economy.
"A key part of this strategy, Victoria's Technology Plan for the Future – Information and Communication Technology, is an $85 million plan to promote ICT-enabled innovation and support the growth of local and internationally competitive and recognised ICT businesses, such as NBN Co.
"The Coalition Government understands the importance of high-quality broadband whatever the platform and will continue to work with NBN Co to get Victoria a fairer share of the NBN roll-out.
"We are taking a leading role in developing Victoria's digital economy by demonstrating the productivity benefits of broadband through such programs as the $18 million Broadband-Enabled Innovation Program – a key initiative of Victoria's Technology Plan for the Future – Information and Communication Technology.
"Our government is committed to generating opportunities for Victorian companies during the building and operating phases of the NBN, and in supplying high-speed broadband-enabled goods and services to homes, schools, workplaces, and businesses," Mr Rich-Phillips said.
To date several Victorian companies and global companies with a Victorian presence have secured contracts for the construction phase of the NBN.
Telecommunications product developer and manufacturer Warren & Brown Technologies has won two equipment contracts from NBN Co in the past 12 months worth up to $170 million over five years. Warren & Brown has already added 40 local jobs with an estimated 20 more to come by the end of 2012.
Optical fibre and hardware manufacturer Corning Cable Systems Australia will provide optical cable and other equipment to NBN Co following two contracts worth up to $1.5 billion over five years. As a result of this investment, Corning Cable Systems Australia will create up to 400 new jobs and invest $25 million in its Clayton facility.
Software developer SPATIALinfo is supplying fibre network modelling products to NBN Co to be used for planning, design, construction, and maintenance operations for the first three years of the NBN rollout.
NBN Co today unveiled its facilities in Melbourne's Docklands, including the Network and Services Operations Centre, the National Test Facility and a Discovery Centre, as well as a mobile demonstration centre that will tour the country.
This builds on recent announcements in the technology space, including Telstra's recent announcement of an $800 million data centre expansion program in Victoria, and IBM opening its new global R&D laboratory – the first of its kind in the world.
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