Life in the fast lane

A handful of Docklands small businesses are currently experiencing the fastest possible internet connections in Australia.

Five tenants of LifeLab at Digital Harbour are part of a Telstra trial to push its fibre optic connection into the Harbour Esplanade building to 100 megabytes per second (Mps).

100Mps is the speed that most internal office networks operate at.  So for these LifeLab tenants, downloading files is as fast via the internet as it would be from the next desk.

Corporations commonly experience this power.  But, until now, it has been unachievable for small businesses.

Digital Harbour is unique in Docklands in that the developer specifically opted out of the VicUrban-mandated iPORT fibre network in preference for keeping its options open.

It has opted for a Telstra “Smart Communities” fibre optic connection which delivers cable and free-to-air TV bundled up with its blistering internet connectivity.

Paul Evans from Rivus TV operates a business which allows individuals to become TV broadcasters via the web.  He says the 100Mps connection has vastly improve his productivity.

“I am amazed and pleasantly surprised with the way Telstra has managed this initiative,” he said.

Digital Harbour executive director Russell Nesbitt said:  “There’s a little zone in Docklands that is actually getting today what the future national broadband rollout is all about.”

He said this meant that LifeLab owners and tenants were several years ahead of the rest of the country.