Australia breaks new regional ground at CommunicAsia 2015

The competition to create and promote the Asia Pacific’s most innovative “smart nation” was heated at this year’s CommunicAsia 2015 in Singapore. Naturally, the host state delivered a clear message for raising the bar to its neighbours. In his opening address, Singapore’s Minister for Communications and Information, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, outlined the country’s technological turnaround, punctuated by moving from ranking 35 in the world in 2010 for download and upload speed to now sitting at number one, according to the Ookla NetIndex.

Singapore is also at the top of the World Economic Forum’s Networked Readiness Index.

The Singapore government also announced that it would launch S$1.63 billion worth of ICT tenders during 2015, focusing on digital services, data services and ICT infrastructure. “There are many ways in which the Singapore government can lead the world in terms of innovation,” said Jacqueline Poh, managing director of the IDA.

Australian ICT firms however, made a significant impact at the conference and exhibition announcing major contract wins and regional alliances. The Victorian delegation included 49 ICT companies with a range of specialities and CommunicAsia marked the forging of new partnerships, expansions, licensing deals and international joint ventures centred on ICT health and medical technology industries.

“Victoria has a strategy to help our ICT, health and medical technology companies to become part of global supply chains in knowledge creation, research, product development and commercialisation. The Andrews Labor Government is proud to be showcasing our state’s world class ICT capabilities at CommunicAsia2015, the most important ICT expo in South East Asia,” said Australian Minister of Training and Skills, Steve Herbert.

IPTV solutions provider CombiTel showcased its Australian developed, Omniscreen Pilot Software  Omniscreen Radio streamer and was impressed with the Asia Pacific’s appetite for IPTV services across a raft of enterprise applications.

In other Australian developments, location-based services technology provider Proximiti announced it has expanded its operations by opening two new regional hubs in Singapore and India.  The Melbourne-based company has also acquired several new clients and entered into regional partnerships to provide location-based technology to Visa and AIS, Thailand's leading telecommunications operator.

While, flexAnswer Solutions signed a five-year renewal contract with Changi Airport Group, and new contracts with seven Singapore Government agencies.

Victoria has been leading successive ICT trade missions to CommunicAsia in Singapore since 2005 and has made significant inroads into the Malaysian market since the Malaysia Australia Free Trade Agreement came into force in 2013.

"Once again, Victorian ICT businesses have demonstrated their innovation and competitiveness, closing a broad range of deals at CommunicAsia, which have the potential to create new local jobs and increase exports," Herbert added.

"We were very impressed by the competitive demand that it is on our doorstep for Australian innovation. CombiTel was also very proud to be part of the Victorian delegation and be on the front line of the support that allows Australian companies to become part of global supply chains in knowledge creation, research, product development and commercialisation,” CombiTel Managing Director Eugene Razbash said.