MOUNT Gambier businesses could soon have access to internet speeds more than 10 times faster than what is currently available through the expansion of GigCity into the district.
Branded as ultra-fast and affordable gigabit internet, GigCity’s foreshadowed growth into the Blue Lake city is expected to give around 220 businesses access to the network, which services metropolitan Adelaide.
Mount Gambier will be one of two regional communities in the state to benefit from the $1m State Government-funded project, with City Council to meet with stakeholders later this year.
If given the green light, GigCity will provide broadband speeds of one gigabit per second to start-up or growth-orientated businesses, currently around 10 times faster than what is available to consumers.
Residential customers would not be able to access the network.
The technology has been used to streamline large image processing and simulation, augmented reality, data analytics, cloud computing and film and media production in Adelaide, with its introduction in the Limestone Coast anticipated to attract more businesses to the region.
Technology Development Research and Support company director Brett Pittard said GigCity would provide more opportunities for businesses to use cloud services rather than relying on individual hardware.
“Rather than relying on their own premises, clients will be able to connect to other offices,” Mr Pittard said.
“There are a lot of sites where they have an office in Adelaide and one in Mount Gambier.
“We have a lot of sites with great connections in Adelaide but not here – and if I could, I would set them up to GigCity because it would be like being in the same room.”
According to the network specialist, gigabit connections would benefit Mount Gambier businesses with multiple locations, allowing real-time communication between sites.
“If a client has multiple offices, even within town, it means they are essentially within the same building,” Mr Pittard said.
“If a client has a site where one is out of town and one is in town and they want them to be on the same network, the current internet connection is okay for that.
“If they had gigabit at the sites, it would be like being on the same network.”
Believing the new network will suit corporate and large-scale businesses, along with local government, Mr Pittard said businesses may take some time to embrace the technology.
City Council chief executive Andrew Meddle has welcomed GigCity’s mooted expansion to the city, believing it will attract new businesses to the region.
“If we get GigCity here it will attract larger businesses to Mount Gambier where they can live comfortably,” Mr Meddle said.
“Mount Gambier has a great livability about it and the more businesses we can bring here and show them that, the better.”
City Council will meet with State Government officials in the coming weeks to discuss the GigCity network expansion.
Adelaide was the first non-American city to be connected with the optic network, having established it in 2016 after forming a partnership with US Ignite, the non-profit organisation behind the US network.
