Yesterday was the first day of the Rural Broadband Symposium that TUANZ is running alongside Federated Farmers. It was a very stimulating day with some excellent speakers and a real buzz of anticipation around the prospect of a connected rural hinterland.
Louis is preparing a comprehensive summary report. Meanwhile here were my three take-away recurring themes from the first day:
Theme 1 – the Government’s Rural Broadband Plan
• the concept is right
• the detail needs more work
• the distinction between “rural” and “urban” is arbitrary
• gatherings like this are great breeding grounds for collaboration – lets use them!
• we really, really want Telecom/Chorus to be a key part of all this
Theme 2 – Applications are as Important as Infrastructure
• The need for applications to develop in tandem with connectivity is now a given
• But fewer examples of “wow” new applications today than previous years
• It’s not all about farms – education, health and communities are equally important
Theme 3 – Rural NZ Is Being Short Changed
• but “Fairness” may not be the right argument
• the more valid argument is:
– too much weight is being given to “greatest good for the greatest number”
– and too little to where the greatest productivity and societal gains will come from
– The latter are also where the market failure occurs
We’re back and into Day 2 as I write.