[plug] [link] topical announcement: "Broadband for small business"

[Leon Brooks]

    http://www.dcita.gov.au/Article/0,,0_1-2_15-4_110518,00.html

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Broadband for small business - always open for eBusiness 

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator 
Richard Alston, welcomes the release today of Broadband for Small Business. 

Broadband for Small Business is an easy to read guide explaining technical 
information and the commercial opportunities generated by fast, always on, 
broadband access. Developed by the National Office for the Information 
Economy (NOIE) in cooperation with the SPAN Broadband Xchange, the guide is 
being released in conjunction with ten small business broadband case studies. 

The positive outcomes for small business detailed in the case studies support 
the view that greater use of broadband has the potential to improve 
productivity throughout the Australian economy. 

For example, one Melbourne book retailer realised an operating benefit 
($64,000) of more than three times their initial investment ($18,000) in 
broadband enabled eBusiness in 2001 alone. A consistent finding of the case 
studies is that broadband's speed and reliability boosts business efficiency. 

Small and medium businesses in Australia are increasingly using the Internet 
with 79 per cent and 95 per cent connected respectively. The past year has 
seen a continuing rise in the percentage of small and medium businesses using 
the Internet for online ordering and payments (Yellow Pages E-Business Report 
2002). These businesses have recognised that the Internet can be a valuable 
tool to improve business efficiency and profitability. 

Broadband for Small Business, and the associated case studies, are initiatives 
flowing from last year's commitment by the Government of $6.5 million over 
two years to help small businesses get online and more actively engaged in 
eBusiness. The Government recently released the Trusting the Internet 
package, which will help small businesses apply appropriate security to their 
online activities. 

The guide will be available online at www.noie.gov.au/smallbusinessbroadband. 

Media contact: Annabelle Herd 02 6277 7480 or 0408 293 458
      Website: www.richardalston.dcita.gov.au 

189/02 
7 August 2002 

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Perhaps ask DCITA for a release "Open Source: online eBusiness enabler"?

Cheers; Leon