The Federal Minister for Communications, Senator Stephen Conroy, and SA’s Minister for Science and Information Economy, Paul Caica, said yesterday, “The success of projects such as this, highlights the great economic and social benefits of high-speed broadband access and the importance of the Rudd Government’s commitment to delivering world-class broadband infrastructure for all Australians, no matter where they choose to live or work.”

SA’s Information Economy Minister, Paul Caica, said Yorke Peninsula farmers, residents and businesses, previously reliant on slow dial-up services or broadband coverage only in the major regional centres, could now access the latest wireless broadband anywhere across the Peninsula, with free connection for eligible users.

“As more and more householders and business operators in the region use broadband services to conduct activities in their daily life, the essential role of these services for business, education and social interaction will become more evident, and this endeavour will be recognised for the pioneering effort it represents,” Mr Caica said.

The SA-based service provider, Internode, through financial help from the Federal Government’s Australian Broadband Guarantee Program, was able to offer eligible local users free connection to the service.

Minister Caica will also today release an independent report that reveals the economic benefits to the region of adopting wireless broadband.

“It quantifies a direct benefit to the Yorke Peninsula of $2 million over five years, plus an additional benefit of $4 million to the rest of the State, making the total benefits to South Australia as a whole over that period around $26 million,” he said.

He said the State Government had played a pivotal role in providing broadband coverage to South Australians through its Broadband Development Fund, which has so far contributed a total of $3.5 million dollars to regional broadband infrastructure projects in the City of Salisbury, the Coorong District, Kangaroo Island, Barossa Light region and Port Lincoln.

“SA regions at an advanced planning stage with their own regional broadband projects are the Murray-Mallee, Fleurieu Peninsula and the Adelaide Hills and I would encourage other regions to continue their ongoing liaison with the State Government’s Broadband SA team,” Minister Caica said.