Australian Senator Conroy receives global telecommunications award | WPN World People News

The Australian Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen has been honoured by the Global Telecoms Business magazine in London for his personal contribution to telecommunication.

Senator Stephen Conroy received the award yesterday at the Global Telecoms Business’ annual Innovation Awards.

In presenting the award, Alan Burkitt-Gray, editor of Global Telecoms Business, described the NBN as "the boldest, most exciting project in the delivery of fixed and mobile broadband services in the world today".

Senator Conroy said that while he was personally honoured to receive the award, he was even more proud that the National Broadband Network is being recognised by telecommunications experts around the globe as a world-class infrastructure project that will bring enormous benefits to Australia.

"I would like to thank Global Telecoms Business for their support and for their recognition of the Australian Government’s vision for the future," Senator Conroy said.

"The Gillard Government understands the power that the NBN brings to communities across Australia. The NBN will bridge the digital divide, provide better educational outcomes, improve health service delivery and increase economic opportunities.

"We are providing a vision for the future, one in which Australia will rank, by 2020, in the top five Organisation for Economic Cooperation (OECD) countries in the portion of households that connect to broadband at home and in the top five OECD countries in the portion of businesses and not-for-profit organisations using online opportunities.

"By connecting to high-speed broadband, households will also benefit through savings generated from time-saving activities such as telecommuting for remote work and study and improved access to business and job opportunities, health, education, social and government services.

"The Gillard Government is getting on with the job of fixing the broadband problems experienced by outer metropolitan suburbs and the regions, and we are bridging the digital divide with rural Australia that was the result of 11 and a half years of neglect under the Howard Government."