Helen Twose
Gearing businesses up for a digital future will be the focus of an impending revision to the Government's Digital Strategy.
The Digital Strategy - originally launched in 2005 - is being revamped in light of rapid technology changes.
Acting manager digital development at the Ministry of Economic Development Janet Mazenier said attitudes to broadband had changed considerably in the the 2 1/2 years since the original digital strategy was launched.
Mazenier - who is in charge of the digital strategy revamp - said back then people weren't sure what broadband was or why they needed it.
Now there is a call for highspeed fibre networks and connections to the rest of the world, she said.
"When I was at Telecom - I left there two years ago - the awareness of what broadband as an enabler could do to enhance our social, cultural, environmental and economic future, wasn't quite there," Mazenier said.
The original target of broadband speeds of 5Mbps delivered to 90 per cent of New Zealanders by 2010 are not relevant anymore, said Mazenier.
People now want speeds of 100Mbps to deliver and receive rich media content, she said.
"There's a mindset shift that has gone on in 2 1/2 years, which has been incredible."
Kicking off the update to the strategy is a Digital Future Summit to be held in Auckland at the end of November.
"Individuals and businesses concerned about broadband speed and access, high-tech business growth, and the social and sustainability issues that technology brings, should all seize this opportunity to contribute to planning for a digital future," said Communications Minister David Cunliffe when announcing the event in May.
Speakers include author of The Long Tail Chris Anderson, world wide web founder Tim Berners-Lee and Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia founder.
Mazenier hopes to attract the people holding the cheque books - the baby boomers or the "hairy ear brigade" - who make the decisions on technology spending.
Mazenier said there is a culture of innovation and early adoption in New Zealand, but also a whole lot of laggards out there.
"The biggest challenge will be the middle New Zealand businesses - the ones that I have a lot of sympathy for - who are juggling their day-to-day cashflow issues with this thing called digital - what does it mean? Is it just a website? ... How do I make an investment decision around that, why is it important to me, what's the bottom line impact of doing that?" she said.
In the lead up to the summit, businesses are encouraged to participate in online forums to discuss the digital issues impacting their companies.
"If this is so vitally important for our economy then what are we going to do to look at things digital to support our economic growth as well as our social, cultural and environmental sustainability?" said Mazenier.
DIGITAL REVIEW
* The Government has announced it will be updating the Digital Strategy first released more than two years ago.
* The original goals such as 5Mbps delivered to 90 per cent of New Zealanders by 2010 are up for revision.
* Business people are being encouraged to participate in the strategy update, either via online forums or attending the Digital Future Summit in November.
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