Benefits of a digital economy enabled by the National Broadband Network

The department commissions research projects from time to time to identify the benefits and other impacts of Australia's digital economy, enabled by the National Broadband Network (NBN), for our society and in relation to specific industries and issues. Where expressly noted, the reports on this page are published under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia license consistent with the copyright terms specified within each publication.

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Opportunities for small business and community organisations in NBN first-release areas

This study reports on the potential for small businesses and community organisations to take advantage of the NBN, based on findings from a series of targeted focus groups with small business and community organisations held across the NBN's first-release areas (Brunswick, Townsville, Kiama, Armidale and Willunga).

Quantifying the possible economic gains of getting more Australian households online

This study provides a 'stocktake' of the benefits associated with increased household internet use, including the benefits likely to accrue to households, businesses, government and third sector organisations.

Telehealth for aged care / Telehealth for veterans

These two reports by Access Economics model the benefits of introducing a telehealth intervention into existing aged and veterans care programs. The modelling is based on a potential two-year telehealth trial in the National Broadband Network (NBN) first-release sites of Armidale, Kiama and Minnamurra, and Townsville.

In both reports, Access Economics concludes that there are net financial benefits for the health system, veterans and individuals from the introduction of telehealth. Among their findings, the reports calculate a financial benefit-cost ratio of 1.61 to 1 (a 61 per cent return on investment) over two years. If quality of life benefits from reduced pain and suffering are factored in the benefit-cost ratio would increase to 2.49 to 1 (a 149 per cent return on investment) over two years. These benefits would flow from delayed entry to residential aged care, health system savings (for example, through fewer hospitalisations), a lessened burden on carers, and reduced transport costs.

These findings support the use of new and innovative ways of delivering health care for older Australians and veterans that take full advantage of high-speed broadband.

For any issues regarding accessing these documents please contact the department on 02 6271 1000.

For more information about e-health and telehealth, visit External site www.ehealthinfo.gov.au

Parliamentary inquiry into the role and potential of the National Broadband Network

In March 2011 the department provided a submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications that conducted an Inquiry into the role and potential of the National Broadband Network.

On 25 August 2011, the committee tabled its report. For a copy of the report, visit External site the committee’s website. On 27 February 2012, the government tabled its response to the report.

Household e-commerce activity and trends in Australia

This report by Access Economics provides an analysis of e-commerce trends in Australia, with a focus on online purchasing by Australian households, the economic and budgetary impacts of these trends, and potential policy implications.

The report indicates that e-commerce produces economic benefits including:

  • an increase in consumer welfare as a result of greater choice and reduced information costs
  • increased productivity via a reduction in the number of sales and customer service staff required (although this may lead to job losses in particular industries)
  • an increase in competition that may, over time, lead to a welfare transfer to the consumer sector via an increase in consumer surplus.

The report notes that barriers to online retailing will gradually diminish for many businesses and consumers, and suggests a possible role for government to encourage more Australian businesses, including retailers, to offer online commerce opportunities.

Impacts of teleworking under the NBN

This report by Access Economics analyses the impacts of teleworking under a National Broadband Network. It incorporates qualitative discussion of benefits to teleworkers, their employers and society and also undertakes high-level quantitative measurement of some of these benefits.

The report primarily focuses on the benefits of time and cost savings from reduced travel, office expenses avoided, increased labour force participation and increased retention of staff. Among its findings, the report estimates the value of a 10 per cent increase in Australian employees that telework 50 per cent of the time at between $1.4 billion and $1.9 billion per annum. Other benefits include decreased fuel consumption, less congestion and savings on infrastructure.

Given the low levels of teleworking in Australia, the report's findings support increased promotion of teleworking in Australia in preparation for the expected new NBN-based digital platforms and business models.

For any issues regarding accessing this document please contact the department on 02 6271 1000.

For more information about teleworking for businesses and individuals, visit:

Financial and externality impacts of high-speed broadband for telehealth

This report by Access Economics analyses the potential impacts of telehealth under a National Broadband Network. It incorporates qualitative discussion of telemedicine for remote consultations, remote home-based monitoring of chronic-disease patients and the aged, and remote training of medical professionals; together with high-level quantitative analysis of their associated costs and benefits.

Access Economics identifies a range of benefits from telehealth that relate to healthcare services, medical effectiveness, decreased travel and employment. Based on previous studies in the USA and Australia, the report finds that the steady state benefits to Australia from wide-scale implementation of telehealth may be in the vicinity of $2 billion and $4 billion per annum.

The report focuses on the financial and externality impacts of ubiquitous high-speed broadband in relation to health and aged care costs, in particular the impacts that would result from increased use of:

  • telemedicine for remote consultations
  • remote home-based monitoring of chronic-disease patients and the aged, and
  • remote training of medical professionals (using haptics), while
  • excluding the benefits of personalised electronic health records.

For any issues regarding accessing this document please contact the department on 02 6271 1000.

For more information about e-health and telehealth, visit the External site Department of Health and Aging's e-health webpage.

Telemedicine in the context of the National Broadband Network

This report by National ICT Australia (NICTA) analyses the potential benefits for telemedicine in Australia in the context of the National Broadband Network (NBN). The report is based upon a literature review of national and international case studies, supplemented by two workshops involving industry and academia to discuss telemedicine issues in the context of the NBN.

The report notes that various localised programs, both in Australia and overseas, have demonstrated the efficiency and effectiveness of e-health initiatives.

Importantly, the report identifies the significant scope for the NBN to catalyse transformative change in the delivery of telemedicine by expanding these local achievements across Australia. The report also emphasises the need for there to be mechanisms to share the information generated by any such trials to aid the progressive national implementation of telemedicine related activities. To achieve this, the report has recommended that e-Health and telemedicine initiatives associated with the NBN develop coordinated testing of technologies and administrative practices.

Potential telehealth benefits of high-speed broadband

This report outlines the findings of a study conducted by a team from Monash University, The Alfred Hospital and Deloitte Consulting which ran a series of workshops with 82 health practitioners on the potential telehealth benefits of high-speed broadband for patients and clinicians.

For any issues regarding accessing this document please contact the department on 02 6271 1000.

 
 
 

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Document ID: 130154 | Last modified: 9 March 2012, 1:24pm