By Paul Hemsley

The Tasmanian Government has selected iiNet as its preferred internet service provider for the state’s Department of Police and Emergency Management to plug into the National Broadband Network (NBN).
 
The deal will link the core network between police stations and the state government.

The rollout of the NBN across Tasmania has so far connected areas such as Triabunna, Sorell, Deloraine and Kingston Beach, with construction already underway in many more locations and others set to begin building between one or three years from now.

The Department has been receiving network services from iiNet since 2010, which has led to a contract between the company and the government that falls under the Networking Tasmania II agreement.

According to iiNet, the upgrade by the Tasmanian government is significant because it is the first state and police emergency management department to sign up for the NBN. Over half of the department’s police stations are scheduled to access better internet services through the NBN by 2014.

Northern District Commander, Richard Cowling said iiNet’s significant increases in network speed because of the NBN will enable the Department to “achieve, over time, even greater efficiencies” particularly in regional Tasmania.

“The NBN is already proving to reduce the time it takes our staff to complete online tasks, has increased the efficiency and speed of sharing information and will ultimately allow our officers to be more mobile and spend more time on the ground in the community,”  Mr Cowling, said.

Tasmanian Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, David O’Byrne said the government is keen to give police and emergency management officers the "best technology available" to support them in the work they do.

The Department’s deputy director corporate services, Todd Crawford said iiNet worked with the Department to trial the upgrades while still providing backup DSL connections.

“This meant we could take advantage of the technology’s speed and efficiency, while having the assurance of the backup network.  This provided a crucial level of comfort during the transition phase,” Mr Crawford.