Australia - National Broadband Network - Smart Grids

Synopsis

Australia is in a unique position to benefit from two infrastructure projects that are being developed simultaneously. NBN Co is currently rolling out the government-initiated National Broadband Network and it also has a clear policy known as Digital Productivity, where the government is taking a leadership role in ensuring that other government sectors use this infrastructure for the delivery of trans-sector services (e-health, e-education, smart grids, etc).

The government has also developed a policy for the national rollout of smart grids; its demonstration project was launched in late 2010.

Smart Grid Australia and NBN Co are working together to investigate synergies between these two infrastructure projects and a preliminary report mentions possible savings of $2 billion if the projects can be aligned. Special access is provided in the NBN Bill for utilities.

Progress on the issue has been slow. Increased awareness regarding the trans-sector use of the NBN might see an increase of activity in 2013.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Key to Smart Grids in telecommunications
• 3. NBN access for smart utility services
• 4. Smart Grid Australia and the NBN (analyses)
  • 4.1 Smart Grid/Smart City and the NBN
  • 4.2 Developments in 2011 and 2012
• 5. Projects and Developments
  • 5.1 Power and Water Corporation
  • 5.2 NBN facilitates wind farm
• 6. Smart grids and the National Broadband Network (NBN)
  • 6.1 Introduction
  • 6.2 Exploring synergies and opportunities
  • 6.3 Using electricity infrastructure to roll out broadband
    • 6.3.1 Trans-sector use of infrastructure
    • 6.3.2 Skilled and readily available workforce
    • 6.3.3 Combined Optical Network Terminal (ONT)/smart meter – industry perspective
    • 6.3.4 Combining ONT/smart meter – user and competition perspective
    • 6.3.5 Broadband
    • 6.3.6 Addressing social and economic problems
  • 6.4 NBN and smart infrastructure
• 7. Smart Grid/Smart City Project (separate report)
• 8. Separate background reports

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