GigCity Adelaide has announced a major expansion of its 1 Gigabit/sec fibre optic network. There will be 16 additional innovation precincts added to the $7.6 million network.

The new precincts are located across Adelaide’s metropolitan area, including seven in the north, six in the CBD and one each in the west and south of Adelaide. Tenants including cultural institutions, corporates, small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups within these precincts will be connected to high-speed Iinternet.

The South Australian Broadband Research and Education Network (SABRENet) will connect the selected precincts to its fibre optic network from February 2018. Pricing plans start from $50 a month.

SABRENet extends over 250km and connects more than 190 education, research and innovation locations across South Australia, including university campuses, research precincts, teaching hospitals, TAFEs and schools. It is a not-for-profit company jointly owned by the University of Adelaide, Flinders University, University of South Australia and the South Australian Government.

The GigCity network is separate to, but complementary with, the City of Adelaide funded ‘Ten Gigabit Adelaide’ strategy, announced in 2016.

Ten Gigabit Adelaide is specifically designed for businesses and organisations located in the City of Adelaide, giving City and North Adelaide based businesses a distinct competitive advantage. This in turn will help to retain and attract new businesses to the City of Adelaide, create jobs, drive innovation and investment, and generate huge economic, social and financial returns for the City and the local community.

In December telecom TPG was announced as the network’s builder and operator

The additional GigCity precincts were selected as part of a competitive process opened in October 2017. More than 50 applications were received. Locations to be added:

• Waite Research Precinct
• Noarlunga Innovation Centre
• Microsoft Innovation Centre
• North Terrace Cultural Precinct Innovation Hub
• TechStars Adelaide
• Allianz Centre Adelaide
• Lion Arts Centre
• The Foundry
• Prospect Road Innovation Precinct
• Modbury Precinct
• Gawler Business Innovation Precinct
• The Innovation Grid
• Playford Creative Industries Precinct
• Northern Adelaide Food Park
• Australian Advanced Materials Manufacturing Precinct
• Hendon Innovation Precinct

The South Australian cities of Mount Gambier and Whyalla are also looking to attach to the network.