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Broadband partnership recognised for changing lives
Telstra’s Network Construction Executive Director John Gibbs said, “While this project is a proven industry favourite in the project management field, this win stands out because the category stresses the positive impacts broadband can have on individuals living in remote communities.”
“I can’t help but think of our network construction fibre crews working on the ground together with traditional owners in 45oC conditions and how they will feel when they hear how the benefits of their labour has been highlighted on the world stage,” said Mr Gibbs.
The award-winning project has seen the laying of over 800 kilometres of fibre optic backbone through tropical savannah terrain from Jabiru to Nhulunbuy. Further works, installing fibre spurs and radio systems in late 2009, means a number of island communities also have broadband access.
Project completion means nine healthcare centres are now connected to broadband services, enabling the centres to use video conferencing to consult with other health care providers across Australia and send scans to test for diagnosis.
In addition, the internet access for twelve schools across Arnhem Land has now moved from 256kbps up to 20Mbps. Students in these remote communities will now have access to classrooms online, providing the same range of subjects and quality of learning options as kids in the city.
“This life-changing project has only been made possible through the strong relationships between the traditional owners of the land, the Northern Land Council, the Northern Territory Government, Rio Tinto Alcan and Telstra,” Mr Gibbs said.
This award win is the third international award for the Arnhem Land Fibre Project and the tenth achieved overall.
Award winning history - the Arnhem Land Fibre Project:
This award win is the third international award the Arnhem Land Fibre Project and the tenth achieved overall:- October 2010: The Broadband Infovision Awards, held at the 2010 Broadband World Forum, in the category of ‘Changing Lives’;
- August 2010: Two AIPM awards Northern Division awards – the ‘project of the year' award and the Territory’s award for ‘Best Regional Development’;
- June 2010: Global Telecoms Business Innovation Awards 2010 in the category of ‘Fixed Network Infrastructure Innovation’;
- March 2010: Australian Telecommunications Users Group (ATUG) 2010 Excellence Awards in the category of ‘Best Communication Initiative – Regional’;
- November 2009: World Communication Awards 2009 in the category of ‘Best Project Management’;
- October 2009: National AIPM Project Management Achievement Awards in the category of ‘Best construction/engineering project with a total budget of less than $100m’;
- September 2009: two Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) Northern Division awards – the 'Project of the Year' award and the Territory’s award for ‘Best construction/ engineering project with a total budget of less than $100m’; and
- March 2009: ATUG 2009 Excellence Award in the category of ‘Best Communications Initiative - Large Business’.
Reference Number: 367/2010
Related information
Documents
- Arnhem Land Fibre Project fact sheet (PDF, 171KB)
