Adelaide - South Australia's capital
Telecommunication services supplier MIMP Connecting Solutions has been tapped to deliver high-speed internet services two South Australian cities.
Backed by a $1 million investment from the State Government, Whyalla and Mount Gambier will be the first regional cities to be connected to the GigCity network.
The GigCity network is being rolled out across Adelaide via South Australian Broadband Research and Education Network (SabreNet), a fibre optic network that runs north to south of the central business district, and EscapeNet. The project is divided in two stages across a four-year $7.7 million plan, funded by the Government of South Australia. Plans starting at $49.90 are being offered to local businesses.
MIMP will be in charge of extending GigCity to the two regional cities by the end of the year, with more than 200 businesses expected to connect in Mount Gambier and 70 in Whyalla.
According to South Australia minister for innovation and skills David Pisoni, MIMP has already started preliminary works to build a new wireless broadband network and eligible businesses in both cities will be invited to register their interest to connect soon.
"MIMP Connecting Solutions has been a supporter of regional SA for many years and is very excited to be able to work with the South Australian Government and the two City Councils to extend GigCity to Whyalla and Mt Gambier via this initiative," MIMP general manager Stephen Fitzgerald said.
Eligible businesses will need to be located within geographic reach of the wireless transmitters to receive a reliable, high-speed connection.
Whyalla City Council CEO Chris Cowley said that when up and running, Whyalla businesses will be able to sign up to an internet service that will provide one gigabit download and upload speeds, which is about 20 times quicker than currently available in Whyalla.
"GigCity is an essential element for the transformation of Whyalla, which will allow businesses to gain a technological competitive advantage and drive innovation," Cowley said.
A spokesperson from GFG Alliance, the owners of the Whyalla Steelworks and associated mines, said Whyalla becoming a GigCity would offer a number of advantages for its Whyalla operations.
"GigCity will provide existing and new businesses with opportunities for innovation and development through high-speed connectivity that will further enhance the attractiveness of Mount Gambier as a place to invest and do business," said City of Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin.
