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THE South Australian government has appointed Adelaide business EscapeNet to deliver a $7.6 million ultra high-speed internet network which is aimed at covering the city's corporate needs.
EscapeNet will deliver gigabit-speed internet services via the South Australian Broadband Research and Education Network (SABRENet) fibre optic network to key precincts across the Adelaide CBD.
The Keswick-based EscapeNet won the $8 million contract after an extensive tender and evaluation process which began in December 2016.
The network, Dubbed the 'GigCity Adelaide network', will mainly be based in the city's key innovation precincts and co-working spaces including the Tonsley Innovation Precinct, TechInSA, Stretton Centre, and St Paul's Creative Centre.
Businesses interested in tapping into the GigCity Adelaide network have been encouraged to assess their eligibility, data requirements, and pricing plans.
EscapeNet has provided internet access, telephone and web hosting services to businesses and residential clients across Australia for the past 21 years.
This new government contract will allow the company to expand its engineering team and leverage new opportunities created by GigCity to support the growing technology sector in South Australia.
The state budget last week allocated an extra $2.9 million to expanding the GigCity network into additional precincts, including regional South Australia.
Delivery of the GigCity network will commence in July 2017.
South Australian Science and Information Economy Minister Kyam Maher says the GigCity network is an important infrastructure project for the state.
"This is an important milestone as we work towards connecting innovation precincts and co-working spaces to ultra-fast internet that is 100-times faster than the national average," says Maher.
"For the first time, we will see businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs access ultra-fast internet that is cheaper and less restrictive than current available plans on the market, which only offer half the speed."
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