By CASEY NEILL
MORE than 1000 jobs and $8.4 million in yearly growth are the costs to business of slow internet in the south east.
These were among the findings of a report released on Monday 27 April by the Southern Melbourne Regional Development Australia (RDA) Committee and Greater Dandenong, Kingston and Frankston councils.
They are using the results to urge National Broadband Network (NBN) Co to review its rollout priorities.
The report, based on a survey of 322 businesses that employ more than 6500 people, concluded that inadequate internet access was constraining innovation.
More than 70 per cent of respondents said their productivity would improve by up to 20 per cent if they were connected to high speed broadband.
More than 25 per cent would seriously consider relocating to access it and two thirds were unhappy with their current internet service.
Southern Melbourne RDA committee member Tony Lupton wants the report to change the narrative about NBN.
“It’s not just about downloading movies,” he said.
Fellow member Lyndon Joss said NBN Co had to achieve connection targets and that domestic connections were easier and faster to complete.
“Businesses are not getting the connection they need and they’re suffering,” he said.
Mr Joss said some businesses were spending thousands of dollars – sometimes more than $20,000 – to install their own improved internet connections.
“They can’t wait any more because they can’t get any information about when it’ll go in,” he said.
Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford launched the report at printing business Nulab Professional Imaging in Braeside.
Nulab owner Michael Warshall, said it could take hours to download a single job.
“Our business totally depends on the internet,” he said.
“As technology improves, files get bigger. If we can’t get them in time, we can’t print them in time and we can’t send them in time.
“Customers are going elsewhere. This is making us less competitive, it’s holding us back.”
An NBN Co spokesperson said the company’s goal was to make fast broadband available to all Australian homes and businesses by 2020.
“Economic and physical resource constraints prevent us connecting everyone at the same time,” a statement said.
“As a result, we must build the network in a systematic, efficient and cost effective manner.
“We are working hard to do this as quickly as possible and at least cost to Australians.
“Ultimately, nobody will miss out.”
View the full report at www.rdv.vic.gov.au/smrda
