KEY POINTS:
The Government's second grand vision of New Zealand's digital future is being knocked into shape for release some time around the middle of the year.
Crafting of the aptly named Digital Strategy 2.0 was kicked off at a two-day event in Auckland in November, after which a draft document was released that all and sundry were invited to make submissions on.
By the (extended) deadline of May 23, about 100 submissions had been received. Those are now being pored over by the Ministry of Economic Development.
Brad Ward, the MED's digital development manager, says a pleasingly broad range of groups made submissions, not just the usual suspects of TUANZ, representing telecommunications users, and InternetNZ, which sets the rules for the New Zealand internet domain space.
"We've had good coverage from user groups to the ICT sector, rural groups and the general business community."
The ticklish issue of timing of the general election and the possibility of a change of government aren't being factored into the strategy's release, Ward says. However, it will be a "living document" on account of the fact that the "environment is moving so quickly".
"We haven't worked out the mechanics of that yet but there will be new government policy that will obviously evolve from the strategy and we would continue to listen to suggestions from stakeholders, and that would guide us in terms of further policy decisions."
The new document updates the 2005 Digital Strategy, whose launch was overseen by Information Technology Minister David Cunliffe, who declared it an action plan for "ensuring all New Zealanders benefit from information and communications technology".
As the years slip by, some of the original strategy's specific targets look almost certain to be missed. The target most at risk is that of ensuring New Zealand will be in the top quarter of the OECD for broadband uptake by 2010.
We're actually 20th out of 30, with 16.5 broadband subscribers per 100 people, although we're in the top 10 for rate of growth. OECD ranking wouldn't matter, of course, if all those who wanted broadband could get it at a speed and price they were happy with - but nowhere in the world
As the years slip by, some of the [2005 digital strategy's] specific targets look almost certain to be missedhas that. Another target was that by 2009 the Government would be "promoting and supporting open access fibre networks in 15 cities and towns", so that all major public institutions would have access to a 1Gbit/s connection by 2010.
A month ago, this one would have been written off as well. But the announcement in the Budget of the Broadband Investment Fund, which will be available for urban ($250 million), rural ($75 million) and international ($15 million) projects, means there's still a chance of hitting it.
The Government can claim - just - to have met its 2006 deadline for the launch of a high-speed network connecting universities and Crown Research Institutes. KAREN - the Kiwi Advanced Research and Education Network - went live in December 2006, making it possible for researchers at geographically dispersed institutions to collaborate in new ways.
Ward says version 2 of the strategy doesn't pretend that connectivity issues have been solved.
"The minister has been quite clear about it - this is a strategy that's obviously still got a focus on the enablers, such as connection through broadband, skills and the like."
In fact, the draft lifts broadband sights considerably, aiming to put 20Mbit/s connections within reach of 80 per cent of the population by 2012, with a further 10 per cent able to access 10Mbit/s.
"We're now at the point, too, where we're asking 'so what'," Ward says, "moving to a focus on how we start using these tools for greater productivity for the country, creating better outcomes for communities and improving our environmental sustainability. So that's a new flavour compared to the 2005 strategy."
Forget new flavours, just dish up more broadband, says TUANZ.
Rather than burying broadband speed aspirations on page 17 of the strategy document, TUANZ urges they be brought to the front.
InternetNZ goes much further. It reckons we should be shooting for 100Mbit/s access for 80 per cent of the population by 2012, and 1Gbit/s by 2015. Wish away.
InternetNZ also says the strategy should be broadened into a whole-of-community document, not just a Government plan of action. Good idea - with all the polls pointing to a change of government soon after the strategy's final release, it may be the only way of ensuring the "living document" has any life left in it post-election.
Anthony Doesburg is an Auckland technology journalist
