New wireless tech 200 times faster

The Victorian government has announced that wireless broadband 200 times faster than current rates is in the works.

The technology is currently under development by the Victoria Research Laboratory’s Gigabit Wireless Laboratory.

The lab is part of the Federal Government’s National ICT Australia (NICTA) body, which is aimed at capitalising Australia’s untapped ICT potential.

According to Victoria’s Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Marsha Thomson, the semi-conductor wireless technology being developed would create a rethink of business models across industries like health, education and entertainment.

As an example of the technology’s potential, Thomson said a two-hour DVD movie would be capable of being downloaded in less than 30 seconds.

“There is every possibility that the potentially low-cost of this world-leading technology will enable wireless multi-gigabit coverage in the office and at home,” she said in a statement.

For Thomson the technology was proof that Victoria was playing a major role in national ICT R&D, accounting for more than 42 per cent of national private sector ICT R&D expenditure.

“The Bracks government takes very seriously its responsibility to support our research community, to invest in innovation and research and to drive the commercialisation of research,” she said.