Developers’ smart move

Stockland and Australand are the first developers to participate in the Telstra Smart Community program, launched in Western Australia in March.

The developers’ involvement in the program is aimed at delivering telecommunications infrastructure to two residential estates in Baldivis.

Under the program, Telstra will work closely with developers to cater for the telecommunications needs of developing and future communities.

The telco is currently required to provide a basic telephone service to all residents, but only implements further communications infrastructure when the demand is there, according to Telstra metropolitan general manager of marketing, Catherine Emory.

“The smart community program means that the infrastructure is going to be there before the estate is at capacity,” Ms Emory said.

“By partnering with developers we are able to advise on provisioning options and the optimum infrastructure for new estates, so that customers needs are addressed during the development stages, and do not have to be revisited at a later date.

“The agreement with Stockland and Australand means both developments will be provided with high-speed Internet via ADSL, digital CDMA and GSM mobile telephone coverage, fixed line telephony and subscription TV via satellite services.

“This is technology that a lot of inner suburbs do not currently have, and if Telstra was doing this on its own, we would only do it as demand dictates.”

The focus of the smart community program is to allow Telstra to work in partnership with developers, local government and the building industry to ensure the most suitable products are delivered to communities.

Ms Emory said Telstra would prefer to put telecommunications infrastructure into new estates under the smart community program because it made planning of estates easier and provided better outcomes for communities.

Telstra undertook market research on the telecommunications needs of the industry and found the development industry was highly “immature” in identifying and addressing residents’ telecommunications needs.

The research also found the industry wanted Telstra to be proactive in identifying telecommunications solutions for new estates.

Australand general manager WA Chris Lewis said he was delighted to be able to work in partnership with Telstra to ensure Australand customers’ needs were met.

“The way we as a community live our lives demands the latest in technology is available,” Mr Lewis said.

“From communication, education and research through to entertainment and shopping or work-from-home opportunities, modern and efficient information technology services are part of our every day lives.

“With the provision of these services in our new Baldivis community estate our customers will have significant advantage to others in the area.”

This is the first time the smart community initiative has been used in WA, and developers jointly fund the project with Telstra.

The infrastructure will be made available in Stockland’s Settlers Hills, which will eventually contain 3,000 homes, and Australand’s new estate in nearby North Baldivis, which will be released in July and will contain more than 450 homes.

Stockland general manager WA Nick Perrignon said he was delighted with the outcome for residents of Settlers Hills.

“The program offers state-of-the-art telecommunication services and potentially large savings for customers,” Mr Perrignon told WA Business News.

“This is a further point of differentiation to other land developments, but more importantly offers a meaningful and highly beneficial advantage to our Settlers Hills customers.

“Settlers Hills has achieved amazing growth since its commencement and we are expecting even stronger demand, and this was a key factor for Telstra when considering the provision of infrastructure.”