Connectivity Innovation Network I Progress Report 2021-2024
THE CONNECTIVITY INNOVATION NETWORK
IS PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY:
Acknowledgement of Country
The Connectvity Innovaton Network acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditonal Custodians and Elders of this naton and the contnuaton of cultural, spiritual and educatonal practces of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
As we conclude our third full year of operaton at the Connectvity Innovaton Network (CIN), we would like to take a moment to thank all those who have contributed to our collaboratve achievements.
CIN is frst and foremost a network of collaboraton between the NSW Government, industry and academia. Our primary focus has been innovatng to improve access, reliability and resilience of connectvity, as well as data sharing when commercial solutons are not available. In 2022, we ran several problem statement workshops to fully understand the challenges facing NSW frontline service organisatons and some communites severely impacted by natural disasters. Following this, we began to explore novel forms of rapidly
deployable connectvity and get into the details of what underpins the resilience of telecommunicaton networks, partcularly in emergency situatons. We also looked at novel ways to make the network itself a sensor in emergencies.
CIN has undertaken several marquee projects in data sharing, energy resilience and cyber security. Whilst the secure mult-organisaton data-sharing platorm (SMODS) was the hit of 2023, the standout for 2024 was, without a doubt, the rapidly deployable, large-area Wi-Fi system (LAWIFI).
Our LAWIFI in-feld demonstratons have shown the feasibility of extending high-speed connectvity to remote and underserved areas. The rapidly deployable nature also makes the soluton well suited to emergency situatons. Field demonstratons in the Royal Natonal Park and Wagga Wagga have highlighted not only that it can be done, but the potental impact of providing reliable high-speed internet access to all corners of New South Wales and beyond. We also garnered success natonally; the whole LAWIFI system won a Merit Award in the Technology Platorm category at the Natonal 2024 iAwards.
In 2023, our regional workshop was held in Lismore where we explored the devastatng impact of foods and how community members, emergency services and infrastructure providers responded over diferent tmeframes. We explored their
Message from our Director Dr Ian Oppermann
and Technical Director Professor Jay Guo
communicatons needs and the technologies available. In 2024, our regional workshop moved to Wagga and marked another signifcant event unitng local industry and research partners, industry leaders from Telstra, Optus and TPG, frst responders and everyday people to describe and discuss the complexites of living in the modern age with lessthan-perfect connectvity. The workshop facilitated valuable discussions and collaboratons, helping us address the connectvity challenges faced by people in regional and remote communites.
As we look ahead to 2025, we remain dedicated to exploring new possibilites and leveraging our collectve expertse to create a fully connected and inclusive future for all. We will contnue to foster close collaboraton between academia, industry and governments. We will keep creatng cutng-
edge technologies in connectvity to improve government services and community well-being. We have also set our sights on becoming a thought leader in connectvity innovaton—natonally and internatonally—and serving as a trusted advisor to the NSW Government on connectvity technologies and policies.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our eforts this year. Together, we are making a diference.
Ian Oppermann Director
Jay Guo Technical Director
“The Connectivity Innovation Network stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, bringing together diverse sectors to turn challenges into opportunities and deliver real-world solutions for NSW.”
Message from our Chair of the Board, Shane Fitzsimmons AO AFSM
It has been a privilege to serve as the Inaugural Board Chair of the NSW Connectvity Innovaton Network. Established in late 2021, by the NSW Telco Authority in consultaton with the Ofce of the NSW Chief Scientst & Engineer, CIN leverages collaboraton between public safety agencies, research, industry and government sectors, to explore and solve connectvity challenges for the people of NSW. Following a career of over 35 years in the fre, emergency and disaster management sectors, my engagement with CIN through their workshops, symposia and travelling out to regional areas in my role as Chair, has reinforced and highlighted to me the importance and critcality of the Connectvity Innovaton Network in bridging gaps and growing relatonships within the connectvity and Telecommunicatons sectors.
In just under 3 years, CIN has established a cohesive management team and governance structure to ensure necessary guidance and directon, provision of strategic advice, and to promote its primary goal of fostering and facilitatng meaningful collaboraton between government, industry and academia to artculate problems, drive technical innovaton and, of course, solve connectvity challenges across NSW and Australia.
I’ve had the opportunity to open the very frst problem statement workshops in late 2021 and mid 2022, as well as atend symposia on Power Resilience and Regional Connectvity, held in Lismore
and Wagga Wagga. I’ve followed the progress of CIN’s frst two pilot projects on secure real-tme multmedia data sharing and rapidly deployable large area Wi-Fi, from their incepton to completon and beyond. I look forward to following progress with the emergence of a pipeline of new projects on Power resilience, Sensing for disasters and Cybersecurity.
This is a remarkable amount of growth and progress in a relatvely short tme frame and it couldn’t happen without the professionalism, hard work and dedicaton of the CIN Ofce and their NSW Telco Authority Counterparts.
My sincere appreciaton and thanks to CIN Director and Technical Director, Dr Ian Oppermann and Distnguished Professor Jay Guo at UTS, who give so generously of their tme. I’d also like to thank colleagues and members of the CIN Board, Advisory Board and Technical Steering Commitee, Genie Tan and CIN team members, as well as Kylie De Courteney and the NSW Telco Authority.
I am very proud to be a part of this ground-breaking Connectvity Innovaton Network and look forward to supportng its growth and success into the future.
Shane Fitzsimmons AO AFSM
Our vision is to enhance Australia’s connectivity for emergency and government services, as well as communities, by leveraging expertise from academia, industry and government to drive technological innovation.
Our mission is to solve connectivity challenges and bridge the digital divide to deliver improved outcomes for the people of New South Wales.
Ubiquitous connectivity We are on a mission: for the people of NSW
Ubiquitous connectvity advances digital inclusion for all, ensuring no individual, community or business is lef behind. Established in late 2021 by the NSW Telco Authority in consultaton with the NSW Ofce of the Chief Scientst and Engineer, the Connectvity Innovaton Network’s mission is unequivocal: to drive collaboraton and innovaton to transform connectvity across New South Wales and beyond.
This inaugural progress report is a vibrant showcase of our aspiratons and achievements to date as we work together to deliver tangible, meaningful impact. Over the past three years, CIN has tackled some of the state’s most critcal connectvity challenges, partcularly in regional and remote areas where the digital divide is greatest. We have fostered robust partnerships across academia, industry and government, becoming a powerful catalyst for transformatve solutons that strengthen connectvity resilience and infrastructure.
Beyond a celebraton of our milestones and a refecton on what we’ve learned, this report is a roadmap for the contnuous evoluton of connectvity solutons to genuinely improve people’s lives, every day. We’re working trelessly to realise a bold collectve vision for the future—one in which digital connectvity equity supports communites to thrive.
The NSW Digital Connectvity Index measures the quality of digital access in diferent areas. Communites with a score below 40 are unlikely to be able to meaningfully conduct digital actvites such as working, video conferencing and accessing telehealth.
Our strategy
The Connectvity Innovaton Network is dedicated to advancing connectvity innovaton, fostering collaboraton and providing trusted advice to government stakeholders. Our strategy is guided by four core objectves:
1
Foster collaboraton:
We unite communites to co-create solutons through inclusive workshops, targeted engagement and alignment with government priorites. By nurturing partnerships with innovaton networks and supportng collaboratve projects, we deliver real-world benefts for regional communites and underserved areas.
Drive connectvity innovaton:
2
3 4
CIN leads innovatve projects that combine advanced research with practcal solutons designed to meet user needs. We prioritse commercialisaton, impactul outcomes and strategic funding to transform ideas into deployable, scalable and sustainable technologies.
Lead in connectvity thought leadership:
By hostng symposia, publishing thought leadership and engaging global leaders, CIN infuences connectvity innovaton. Our insights shape policy and drive forwardthinking decisions, ensuring a connected, inclusive and resilient future.
Be a trusted government advisor:
CIN provides trusted advice by identfying opportunites for positve policy change and engaging in strategic planning with government agencies. Through secure testng environments and an expanded support network, we build confdence in sustainable, resilient emerging technologies.
Our process
Integrated planning meetngs
CIN collaborates with major stakeholders to defne high-level problem statements, ensuring alignment with industry and government priorites. During this stage, potental funding sources are also identfed to enhance project feasibility and impact.
Call for project proposals
CIN issues calls for proposals to seek innovatve solutons that address prioritsed challenges. Submissions are evaluated on their potental impact, feasibility, tme to implementaton and alignment with CIN’s strategic objectves.
Prioritsaton
Each proposed challenge is assessed based on its level of impact, urgency and relevance to multple agencies. Alignment with CIN’s core focus areas and potental for funding leverage further guide the prioritsaton process.
Project selecton
Proposals undergo a rigorous selecton process, considering feasibility, the track record of applicants, pathways for adopton and strategic planning. Opportunites for leveraging additonal funding are also explored at this stage.
process
From problem statement to project impact
Project executon
Selected projects move into executon, with clearly defned milestones, budget oversight and adherence to policy requirements. CIN provides ongoing support to ensure progress towards tangible outcomes.
Project assessment
The success of each project is evaluated based on technical achievements, readiness for adopton and alignment with an overarching impact roadmap. This ensures that CIN projects contribute meaningfully to bridging connectvity gaps and driving long-term innovaton.
The relatonship between our problem statement workshops, symposia and projects is both strong and symbiotc. Each actvity we undertake serves a purpose and naturally progresses into the next, creatng a seamless fow of innovaton and problem-solving.
CIN’s eforts revolve around four broad themes: ubiquitous connectvity, power resilience, AI and cyber automaton and environmental sensing Our workshops and symposia are designed to share knowledge and tackle key challenges within these themes. Each event culminates in identfying a core set of common problems that then inform CIN projects. These projects are metculously crafed to bridge technology gaps and address the needs of both government and industry, with the ultmate aim of solving connectvity challenges and closing the digital divide. CIN projects uniquely focus on technology innovaton with a long-term goal of potental adopton.
People and governance
Directors
Dr Ian Oppermann
Director
Dr Ian Oppermann is a renowned leader in the Informaton and Communicaton Technology (ICT) sector with nearly 30 years of experience in senior management roles across Europe and Australia. He has served as Director for Radio Access Performance at Nokia, Global Head of Sales Partnering (Network Sofware) at Nokia Siemens Networks and Divisional Chief and Flagship Director at CSIRO.
From 2015 to 2023, Ian was the NSW Government’s Chief Data Scientst, where he chaired the NSW Artfcial Intelligence Advisory Commitee and led the development of the world’s frst AI Assurance Framework, setng a global standard for ethical AI in government projects.
A highly cited researcher and Digital Economy thought leader, Ian has contributed to six books and authored over 120 research papers, cited more than 4,000 tmes. He is a Fellow of the Insttuton of Engineers Australia, IEEE, the Royal Society of NSW, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and the Australian Computer Society, where he also served as President. Ian is President of the Australian Natonal Commitee of the Internatonal Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and Australia’s JTC1 Strategic Advisory Commitee.
Ian is an Associate Industry Professor in the Faculty of Engineering and IT at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). He holds a PhD in Mobile Telecommunicatons from the University of Sydney and an MBA from the University of London.
At CIN’s heart is a team of world-leading experts in informaton technology, AI and cybersecurity, and wireless communicatons. Hosted by UTS in partnership with the University of Sydney—two of Australia’s foremost insttutons in Telecommunicatons Engineering—the Network brings together some of the brightest minds dedicated to solving real-world connectvity challenges through cutng-edge research. Together, we deliver meaningful and lastng impact, advancing the fronters of technology to improve resilience, access and connectvity where it maters most.
Distnguished Professor Jay Guo
Technical Director
Distnguished Professor Jay Guo brings over 30 years of internatonal experience spanning academia, industry and CSIRO. He served as Research Director at CSIRO for nine years, successfully leading research and development programs across diverse ICT felds, including wireless networking, broadband applicatons, robotcs, sensor networks and big data technologies.
Before joining CSIRO in 2005, Jay held senior roles in the European mobile communicatons industry with Siemens, NEC and Fujitsu Europe, where he spearheaded the development of 3G and 4G wireless communicaton systems. He is currently a Distnguished Professor in the UTS Faculty of Engineering and IT and Director of the Global Big Data Technologies Centre.
Jay is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), the Royal Society of New South Wales (RSNSW) and the IEEE. His accolades include the Australian Government Engineering Innovaton Award (2012), the Australian Engineering Excellence Award (2007) and two CSIRO Chairman’s Medals (2007, 2012). Recognised for his impact, he was named one of Australia’s most infuental engineers in 2014 and 2015. Since 2020, he has been honoured as Australia’s Research Leader in Electromagnetcs by the Australian Research Awards for four consecutve years.
Co-Directors
Professor Jian Guo Zhu Co-Director
Board
Shane Fitzsimmons
AO AFSM GAICD Chair of the Board
Shane Fitzsimmons AO AFSM GAICD brings decades of leadership in emergency management and resilience. As former Chair of the NSW Telco Authority Board and leader of the world’s largest volunteer fre service, he has shaped crisis response and recovery. A recipient of multple honours, Shane strengthens CIN’s mission to improve connectvity in regional and remote areas.
Professor Jian Guo Zhu is a distnguished academic and a leading researcher in power electronics. Formerly a Distnguished Professor at the University of Technology Sydney, he joined the University of Sydney in 2018 as a full Professor and Head of the School of Electrical and Informaton Engineering.
John Castro
Vice President of Wholesale and Satellite, Optus 2022 - October 2023
Kylie De Courteney
Managing Director, NSW Telco Authority
Sarah Goss
Head of Innovaton, Ericsson 2022 - October 2024
David Haigh
Head of Field Operatons, Optus
Vincent Hochart
General Manager Sales, Ericsson Australia
Rob Joyce
Chief Technology Ofcer, Nokia 2022 - August 2023
Professor Yonghui Li
Co-Technical Director
Professor Yonghui Li is a renowned researcher in wireless communicatons and signal processing. He joined the University of Sydney in 2003 and is currently a Professor and Director of the Wireless Engineering Laboratory in the School of Electrical and Informaton Engineering. He is an IEEE Fellow and was a recipient of the ARC Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship in 2008 and the ARC Fellowship in 2012. He has contributed signifcantly to cooperatve communicatons technologies and contnues to advance research in next-generaton wireless systems.
Joanna Knox
Network Applicatons & Services Executve, Telstra
Nick Lochrin
Head of Digital Infrastructure Commercialisaton, Nokia 2023 - February 2025
Yago Lopez
General Manager Technology, Strategy and Innovaton, TPG Telecom 2022 - December 2023
Darren Mills
Executve GM Network Management, NBN Co.
Ray Owen
Chief Technology Ofcer, NBN 2022 - August 2023
Zhi Soon
Chief Strategy and Innovaton Ofcer, NSW Telco Authority 2022 - July 2023
Michael Stein Director, Motorola Solutons
Paul Tremlet
GM Technology Strategy and Innovaton, TPG Telecom
Jane Want
Executve Director Transformaton
NSW Telco Authority 2022 - December 2024
Daniel Wright
Director Product Management, NSW Telco Authority 2022 - August 2024
Advisory Board
Adrian Barr
NSW Dept of Primary Industries 2022 - March 2023
David Earl
Motorola Solutons
Stephen Farrugia
CTO
BAI Communicatons
Andrew Fleming
Newcastle University
Technical Steering Committee
Paul Barnes
Director IT Operatons, Fire and Rescue
Vinh Bui
Southern Cross University
Darren Cooley
Head of Sales and Marketng, Pivotel
Steve Evans
Senior Manager Engineering, BAI Communicatons
Team
Genie Tan
Chief Operatng Ofcer
Michael Friend
PVC Research and Innovaton, Charles Sturt University
Ian Gibson
Associate Dean, University of New South Wales
Kusal Epa
NSW Telco Authority
Mathew Ford
Senior Park Systems Ofcer, NSW Natonal Parks & Wildlife Service Sept 2023 - Dec 2024
CDTO, NSW Telco Authority March 2023 - February 2025
Simon Ringer
Director Core Research
Facilites, University of Sydney
Mary Spongberg
DVC Research & Academic Capability, Southern Cross University
Graeme Stanley
Director of Innovaton, Motorola 2022
Glenn Wightwick
DVC Enterprise, UTS 2022 - August 2024
Shaun Newton
Head of Product, Australia BAI Communicatons 2022- June 2023
Lawrence Ong University of Newcastle
Farzad Safaei University of Wollongong May 2022 -Dec 2024
Leighton Schraw
NSW Police 2022 - July 2023
Lonneke Willems
Marketng and Communicatons
Ofcer
Aruna Seneviratne University of New South Wales
Kent Skeahan
NSW Telco Authority
Andrew Smith
Manager Park Systems & Operatons, NSW Natonal Parks & Wildlife Service
Sam Stephens
General Manager Wireless Technologies, NBNCo
Le Chung Tran University of Wollongong
Mathew White
Manager Operatonal Platorms, NSW Rural Fire Service
Dan Winson
CEO & Founder, Zetf
Filip Zalio
Chief Engineer & Design Authority
GME 2022 - June 2023
Thomas Surridge
Project Manager
NOV
CONNECTIVITY INNOVATION NETWORK ESTABLISHED
CO-DESIGN WORKSHOP
DEC
1ST PROBLEM STATEMENT WORKSHOP
MAY
2ND PROBLEM STATEMENT WORKSHOP CIN LAUNCH EVENT MAY 2022
SEP AUG OCT JUL DEC
SECURE MULTI-ORG DATA-SHARING (SMODS): FINAL DEMO
MAY
2ND ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN BEYOND 5G CONNECTIVITY SUMMIT
INAUGURAL REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY SYMPOSIUM LISMORE
START OF INDUSTRY INTERNSHIPS & CIN FUNDED PHD SCHOLARSHIPS
INDUSTRY NETWORKING EVENT
APR
CIN AWARDED FEDERAL GRANT FOR LAWIFI 2024
2ND REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY SYMPOSIUM WAGGA WAGGA
CONNECTIVITY WHITEPAPER LAUNCH EVENT FEB
LARGE AREA Wi-Fi SYSTEM (LAWIFI): FINAL DEMO
MAY JUN JUL AUG
CIN PROJECT 3: POWER RESILIENCE CFP AWARDED WITH CIN FUNDING
CIN WINS STATE MERIT AT IAWARDS 2024 CALL FOR PROPOSAL 1 CALL FOR PROPOSAL 2 CALL FOR PROPOSAL 3
REAL-WORLD ENVIRONMENT DEMO LAWIFI AT NSW SES NAVSHIELD 2024
CIN WINS NSW MERIT AT IAWARDS 2024
AUG NOV
INAUGURAL ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN BEYOND 5G CONNECTIVITY SUMMIT
CO-DESIGN WORKSHOP
DIGITAL.NSW SHOWCASE MAY JUN POWER RESILIENCE SYMPOSIUM
CIN PROJECT 2: LARGE AREA WI-FI SYSTEM (LAWIFI): SIX MONTH DEMO
CIN PROJECT 1: SECURE MULTI-ORG DATA-SHARING (SMODS): SIX MONTH DEMO
CIN PROJECT 4: SENSING FOR DISASTERS CFP AWARDED WITH CIN FUNDING
AFAC 2024: CIN PRESENTATION TO FRENCH DELEGATION RFS
3RD ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN BEYOND 5G CONNECTIVITY SUMMIT
LAWIFI NAMED FINALIST APICTA AWARDS
Since its launch in late 2021, CIN has grown into a dynamic platorm for collaboraton, driving connectvity solutons across New South Wales. This tmeline highlights key milestones, from the incepton of foundatonal projects to securing major grants and delivering real-world impact. Each achievement refects our commitment to fostering innovaton, bridging industry and research and addressing critcal connectvity challenges in regional and remote areas.
CIN PROJECT 5: AI FOR NETWORK SECURITY CFP AWARDED CIN FUNDING
DIGITAL.NSW SHOWCASE LAUNCH OF WANFI TECHNOLOGY BY LAWIFI LEAD RESEACHERS
CIN’S LAWIFI ANNOUNCED IT NEWS BENCHMARK FINALIST
the sector even more vulnerable to disruption.
Despite the sector’s national importance, the report indicates that resilience has been underdeveloped. “Until now, the sector has lacked a well-de ined framework for ile outlines guiding principles for policymakers and the industry, aiming to enhance resource allocation and improve coordination across all stakeholders.
“This under development is not surprising,” Curtis noted, citing basic confusion even over who telcos call when an incident occurs. While there are existing information sharing procedures these were more reactive than proactive, with a need to consider what are often deemed 2nd and 3rd order priorities. Curtis cited as one example, the need to not simply replace or expand infrastructure in lood or ire prone areas only to see it destroyed next time a natural disaster comes around. “We need more outside-the-square solutions,” he said.
The report concludes that “without a coordinated approach to sector-wide telecommunications resilience, the sector will struggle to ful il its pivotal role in keeping Australians connected in an increasingly uncertain world.” Grahame Lynch
Telstra talks 6G for first time
Telstra wireless engineering executive Sri Amirthalingam has said a focus on harmonisation of spectrum will be a key part of a successful transition to 6G. However he has cautioned that the future standard remains “quite ambiguous and nebulous.”
Amirthalingam said he expects 6G to ultimately be driven by the “perfect storm” of “massive connectivity, bandwidth requirements and ef iciency & AI coming in,” noting also that the standard is expected to offer seamless connectivity between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.
Addressing the Connectivity Innovation Network’s Beyond 5G Connectivity Summit he cautioned that anyone claiming to know the timing of its arrival and exactly what it’s going to look like is “making it up.”
Amirthalingam stressed the importance of spectrum for the standard, however. “We don’t even know what spectrum we’re going to use,” he said. “And the problem with all these things is that if you don’t get harmonisation of spectrum globally, you don't have the economy scale on your handsets, and nobody can actually launch a viable network. So the ecosystem is quite important. When we talk about 6G, these are the practicalities people miss.”
The “US is pushing for 7GHz, it might be in 6GHz; 3GPP is considering all this and ITU-R is considering all that,” Amirthalingam said.
“A lot of people we speak to, the Tier 1 operators, the manufacturers of equipment, they’re all very circumspect about not rushing 6G,” he said, with questions yet to be COMMUNICATIONS DAY 24 October 2024 Page 5
Interview with Genie Tan, How Australia can achieve
Media & milestones
A snapshot of the Connectvity Innovaton Network’s journey so far — from natonal awards and internatonal recogniton to signifcant funding wins and wide-reaching engagement. These milestones refect the growing impact of CIN’s collaboratve projects across research, industry and government.
$1,400,000
The Connectvity Expert:
$1,500,000 AWARDED TO CIN PROJECTS EVENT ATTENDANCES ACROSS CIN-HOSTED EVENTS WON IN FEDERAL GRANTS
PHD SCHOLARSHIPS AND 2 INTERNSHIPS
Projects
Our projects are built on deep engagement with government, industry and academia, ensuring that every initatve addresses real-world connectvity challenges. Through problem statement workshops, symposia and close collaboraton with emergency service organisatons, the NSW Telco Authority, industry partners and leading researchers, CIN identfes and develops solutons that push the boundaries of innovaton.
Each project is carefully scoped in consultaton with stakeholders to ensure maximum impact and value. Our approach prioritses outcomes that meet genuine needs, foster true innovaton and promote collaboraton—delivering unique solutons with strong potental for adopton and future commercialisaton.
Secure Multi-Org Data-
Sharing (SMODS) Platform
In an emergency, access to real-tme data is crucial. The Secure Mult-Org Data-Sharing (SMODS) Project is a game-changing platorm that leverages novel technologies to enable secure and efcient data sharing between organisatons, with a partcular focus on real-tme multmedia data sharing between emergency services for improved situatonal awareness during emergency events.
Secure Mult-Org Data-Sharing (SMODS) Project
Project leaders: Professor Ren Ping Liu and Dr Xu Wang, University of Technology Sydney
Funding: $200,000
Status: Delivered
Led by UTS in consultaton with World Data Exchange, SMODS is the frst of two pilot projects arising from the outcomes of our inital problem statement workshops. Demonstrated on 4 December 2023 at Cicada Innovatons, this innovatve technology is reshaping emergency response capabilites, supportng emergency teams and ultmately saving lives, property and infrastructure.
Challenge: Data silos and fragmented communicaton
For frontline emergency service organisatons, rapid access to comprehensive real-tme data can make a world of diference when crisis strikes. Characterised by delays, data silos and privacy concerns, current data-sharing systems present signifcant challenges that limit the efectveness of emergency response operatons.
Market gaps: Limitatons of current data-sharing platorms
Traditonal data-sharing platorms face several challenges:
• Slow disseminaton of critcal informaton.
• Fragmented communicaton channels between organisatons.
• Lack of robust privacy protectons and manual data-sharing processes.
Soluton: SMODS secure, scalable data-sharing platorm SMODS resolves these challenges by implementng a web-based, decentralised, privacy-preserving datasharing platorm that harnesses advanced technology to ensure secure and efcient data access.
Key features
• The frst and only data-sharing platorm to incorporate the Australian Computer Society’s (ACS) Data Sharing Framework: Evaluates privacy levels, assesses access risks and manages data lifecycles.
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Flexible and scalable security model ensuring only authorised users can access sensitve data.
• OAuth authentcaton: Seamless integraton with existng systems for secure server-to-server authentcaton.
• AI-driven automaton: Real-tme data product generaton, including video sharing, with strict privacy protectons.
The ACS report Frameworks and Controls for Data Sharing identfes the essental controls and methods to ensure that data is treated appropriately throughout its lifecycle, preserving the privacy of individuals while ensuring maximum possible value from data-sharing practces.
Applicatons
• Emergency services: Real-tme data access for quick, informed decision-making during crises.
• Government agencies: Secure, scalable communicaton between public and private sector stakeholders.
FIRST RESPONDER (HIGH CONTROL)
• Mult-organisaton collaboraton: Streamlined data sharing across sectors to improve situatonal awareness and operatonal efciency.
OFFICER (MODERATE CONTROL)
ON-CALL RESPONDER (LOW CONTROL)
PUBLIC (NO CONTROL)
The SMODS platorm enables role-based access control (RBAC), ensuring that responders only see what they need. From full video for high-authority users to AI-driven real-tme face blurring for privacy protecton, SMODS balances situatonal awareness with data security.
The ACS’s data-sharing types. SMODS in
System Design Decentralised
Council
Decentralised Data Sharing
• Data stay with owners only
Decentralised data sharing: SMODS facilitates secure access by connectng users to data products without storing or accessing the actual data, ensuring that data remains solely with its owners
Limitation of Existing Data Sharing Services
• SMODS knows data products to connect owners and users but not the actual data to protect privacy
Rapidly Deployable
Large Area Wi-Fi System
The Connectvity Innovaton Network’s Large Area Wi-Fi (LAWIFI) project is revolutonising long-range and large-area Wi-Fi systems. This trailblazing initatve delivers reliable, high-speed Wi-Fi coverage in areas where cellular networks are lost due to natural disasters or where no existng connectvity infrastructure is available— partcularly in regional, rural and remote locatons. It ofers vast impact potental in disaster recovery and remote environments.
Rapidly Deployable Large Area Wi-Fi System
Project leaders: Professor Yonghui Li, University of Sydney and Associate Professor Peiyuan Qin, University of Technology Sydney
Industry collaborators: Pivotel, NBN Co., OneWeb, Real Access
Funding: $300,000
Status: Delivered
The second pilot project arising from our frst two problem statement workshops, the 12-month LAWIFI pilot, was successfully delivered and demonstrated on 27 February 2024 at Watamolla Beach, Royal Natonal Park.
As one of CIN’s inaugural pilot projects, Rapidly Deployable Large Area Wi-Fi Project was born from insights gathered during our frst two problem statement workshops.
Challenge: Communicaton failures in critcal situatons
Natural disasters ofen compromise traditonal communicaton networks, delaying rescue eforts and access to essental services. Additonally, many remote communites face persistent challenges in accessing reliable internet, impactng critcal services such as healthcare, educaton and local businesses.
Market gaps: Insufcient coverage and deployment
Current communicaton technologies present several limitatons:
• Limited range: Traditonal Wi-Fi networks lack the ability to cover large areas.
• Rapid deployment issues: Shortage of quick-to-deploy communicaton solutons for emergencies.
• High infrastructure costs: Many existng solutons are expensive and complex to maintain.
• Mesh network limitatons: Mesh networks have logistcal challenges and reduced reliability over larger areas.
• Wi-Fi Halow limitatons: Wi-Fi Halow operates on a sub-1Ghz frequency, rendering it incompatble with standard mobile devices mostly operatng on 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz.
LAWIFI system in acton: (I) Six-month demonstraton on 31 Aug 2023, showcasing early deployment. (II & III) Final 12-month demonstraton on 27 Feb 2024, highlightng enhanced capability and resilience.
Real-life scenario deployment at SES NSW Navshield 2024.
LAWIFI demonstraton at the Regional Connectvity Symposium 2024.
LAWIFI wins the iAwards 2024 Natonal Merit in the Technology Platorm category.
Soluton: Large Area Wi-Fi (LAWIFI) System
The LAWIFI system addresses these gaps by deploying advanced antenna and Wi-Fi technology capable of covering areas up to 2×2 km with highspeed broadband. It provides a scalable, costefectve and rapidly deployable soluton, both for disaster zones and underserved regions.
Key features
• Novel antenna design: Wide beam, high-gain antenna extends coverage over large areas without compromising signal strength.
• Patented Wi-Fi protocols: Solve the ‘hidden node’ problem, enabling longer transmissions with minimal interference.
• Flexible satellite backhaul: Ensures reliable connectvity even with heavy user trafc using SD-WAN architecture and various satellite providers (OneWeb, NBN, Starlink).
• Portable power supply: Guarantees independent power, ensuring functonality in areas with limited infrastructure.
Applicatons
• Disaster recovery: Enabling critcal communicaton for emergency responders during natural disasters.
• Remote area connectvity: Supportng underserved communites with access to services such as healthcare and educaton.
• Temporary events: Rapid deployment for public events and large gatherings.
Next steps
The project is now in its second phase, focused on integratng antenna and access point technologies. The next steps involve validatng and benchmarking the upgraded system, embedding scalability and robustness for deployment in diverse situatons. An additonal $100,000 in funding has been allocated to support the next-generaton LAWIFI development, ensuring contnued innovaton and expanded capabilites.
Power Resilience
Platform
Arising from themes developed through our frst two problem workshops and the 2023 Power Resilience Symposium, CIN’s Power Resilience Project enhances the resilience of the NSW Telco Authority’s (NSWTA) Public Safety Network (PSN). A critcal radio communicatons system connectng frontline emergency services, government agencies and essental services across New South Wales, the PSN is among the largest of its kind globally and second only to Australia’s triple zero emergency hotline in importance.
NSWTA’s Resilience Program strengthens the PSN through the delivery of mobile assets and upgrades, augmentng or replacing coverage and safeguarding commercial mobile networks to keep communites connected. CIN’s innovatve Power Resilience Project extends this by establishing a unifed data management platorm, enabling real-tme power supply monitoring across the network and at individual sites. It also provides predictve analytcs for potental disruptons and proactve measures to maintain network functonality, even during emergencies.
Project 1
A Digital Twin for Managing the Power Resilience of Telecomm
Project leader: A/Professor Wenjing Jia, University of Technology Sydney
Funding: $200,000
Status: In progress
Project 2
A mult-agent system soluton for improving resilience of the telecommunicatons system in emergencies and natural calamites
Project leaders: Dr Fenghui Ren and Professor Jun Yan, University of Wollongong
Funding: $50,000
Status: In progress
The need for greater power resilience emerged from our early problem statement workshops, leading to the dedicated Power Resilience Symposium in January 2023.
Project 3
A data-sharing platorm for power network situaton awareness using drones
Project leaders: Dr Vinh Bui, Professor Brendan Kelaher, Dr Ali Reza Alaei, Southern Cross University
Funding: $50,000
Status: In progress
Led by UTS, CIN members University of Wollongong and Southern Cross University are delivering complementary functonalites for future integraton into the power management platorm, ready for progress demonstraton in 2025. By fortfying the PSN’s resilience, the project will boost emergency response capabilites and reinforce the safety and security of communites across New South Wales.
Challenge: Network vulnerability to power disruptons As the backbone of emergency communicatons in NSW, PSN’s reliability is essental. Power supply disruptons pose a signifcant risk, potentally jeopardising critcal communicaton during emergencies.
Soluton: Unifed data management for predictve power resilience
The Power Resilience Project harnesses advanced technologies to transform how power dependencies are managed:
• Real-tme monitoring: Contnuous assessment of power supply across PSN sites to detect and address issues instantly.
• Predictve analytcs: Insights into potental vulnerabilites to proactvely safeguard network resilience.
• Proactve measures: Implementaton of strategic solutons to ensure uninterrupted communicaton during emergencies.
Sensing for Disasters
Solutions
Emergent smart sensing technologies ofer great potental in disaster management. A call for proposals following CIN’s inaugural Regional Connectvity Symposium in Lismore in 2023 resulted in the awarding of funding to three innovatve projects: two aiming to validate fundamental research with theoretcal proof or lab experiments and another to develop a novel real-tme wireless rain sensor.
Project 1
Integrated Sensing and Communicaton
Technology for Disaster Monitoring
Project leader: Professor Jinhong Yuan, University of New South Wales
Funding: $40,000
Status: In progress
This project will develop new signalling waveforms and transceiver architectures allowing existng communicaton infrastructure—mobile base statons or LEO satellites—to perform accurate disaster detecton and monitoring. The new technology enables simultaneous sensing and communicaton tasks to be performed by a single system, providing contnuous disaster detecton, monitoring and communicaton services without additonal bandwidth, tme or infrastructure requirements. The design can be fexibly confgured for the detecton and monitoring of a variety of natural disasters including bushfres and foods.
Project 2
Advanced AI-Enhanced Geospatal Sensing for Disaster Management
Project leader: Dr Wanchun Liu, University of Sydney
Collaborators: University of Technology Sydney and Pivotel
Funding: $40,000
Status: In progres
Propelling disaster management into a new era, this project integrates cutng-edge AI with geospatal analytcs for real-tme, high-precision natural disaster sensing, levering three separate AI models to detect sensor anomalies, interpret geographic data and evaluate sensor deployment. This unique evolutonary algorithm-based optmisaton framework optmises system robustness, state estmaton accuracy in sensor-scarce environments and sensor deployment. Tackling large-scale sensor network management challenges, it will signifcantly improve disaster preparedness and responsiveness.
Project 3
A Novel Real-Time and Accurate Wireless Rain Gauge
Project leader: Dr Kai Wu, University of Technology
Sydney
Funding: $150,000
Status: In progress
Researchers are developing an innovatve rain gauge that utlises wireless communicaton signals from ubiquitous mobile (cellular) networks. Passively capturing ubiquitous wireless signals, the novel device utlises rainfall imprints to estmate and predict rainfall intensity, signifcantly enhancing the agility, accuracy and tmeliness of rainfall sensing. Scheduled for completon and demonstraton in 2025, the sensor is highly deployable and far more resilient than existng sensors.
Events
Since our incepton three years ago, the Connectvity Innovaton Network has developed, hosted and contributed to a wide range of events that foster collaboraton, drive innovaton and address critcal challenges in connectvity. From workshops and summits to symposia and feld trials, these gatherings form a cornerstone of our mission to close the digital inclusion gap and empower individuals, businesses and communites.
More than just events, they are catalysts for change — bringing together industry leaders, researchers and government representatves to share insights, ideas, expertse and real-world experience. Through these connectons, we create space for meaningful dialogue and lastng partnerships that advance connectvity across New South Wales and beyond. Together, we envision, explore and co-create a more connected future.
First Problem Statement Workshop
7 December 2021, University of Technology Sydney, Ultmo
The Connectvity Innovaton Network’s frst problem statement workshop, held just weeks afer establishment, united key government stakeholders to explore and understand the pressing connectvity challenges they face. The workshop provided a forum for open discussion, knowledge sharing and collaboratve ideaton, laying the foundaton for CIN’s pilot funding initatves.
Taking NSWTA’s suggested themes of power resilience, ubiquitous connectvity, network and cyber automaton and sensors as a startng point, the discussion confrmed the strong need in these areas and evolved to highlight several universal industry challenges:
• Secure, real-tme inter-organisatonal data sharing: A critcal need for coordinated eforts in emergency and operatonal scenarios.
• Ubiquitous connectvity: Ensuring reliable and inclusive access across diverse regions and use cases.
• Cyber security: Addressing vulnerabilites in an increasingly interconnected digital ecosystem.
• Cost: Managing economic barriers to implementng innovatve solutons
This workshop was a vital frst step in our mission to address complex connectvity challenges through targeted projects and partnerships. It provided valuable insights into the priorites and concerns of stakeholders, helping defne our strategic themes for funding and innovaton and fostering collaboraton.
Second Problem Statement Workshop
10 May 2022, University of Technology Sydney, Ultmo
Designed to test and validate outcomes from the frst workshop, our second problem statement workshop expanded the scope of discussions, bringing in new members and key government stakeholders to beter understand their most critcal connectvity challenges.
Secure, real-tme data sharing between organisatons, partcularly Emergency Service Organisatons (ESOs), emerged as a recurring challenge, along with several other key constraints:
• Legal and regulatory requirements: Complexites in compliance across jurisdictons.
• Security concerns: Protectng sensitve data while enabling collaboraton.
• Commercial factors: Addressing cost implicatons and compettve barriers.
• Technical issues, including the need for realtme and statstcal data availability, platorm standardisaton and adequate data storage solutons.
Beyond data-sharing challenges, two other themes stood out as priorites for acton:
• Ubiquitous connectvity: Ensuring consistent, reliable network access across diverse and remote regions.
• Power resilience: Addressing the critcal role of uninterrupted power supply in sustaining connectvity during emergencies.
CIN announced its frst call for proposals afer distlling insights gained from the frst two workshops, targetng two pivotal projects:
1. Secure Mult-Organisaton Data Sharing: Developing solutons to facilitate secure, seamless data sharing between organisatons.
2. Rapidly Deployable Large Area Wi-Fi: Innovatng technologies to provide high-speed connectvity in remote or disaster-afected areas.
This workshop marked a signifcant step forward in CIN’s mission to address connectvity challenges, fostering collaboraton and driving actonable outcomes for our stakeholders.
Connectivity Innovation Network Launch and Networking Event
31 May 2022, University of Technology Sydney Tech Lab, Botany
The Connectvity Innovaton Network was ofcially launched at our host university in the UTS Tech Lab, a world-class multdisciplinary research facility renowned for its cutng-edge laboratories. In additon to celebratng our launch, the event was a vibrant showcase of the unique resources and partnerships that underpin our mission to drive connectvity innovaton.
Tech Lab is home to the largest indoor anechoic antenna chamber in the Southern Hemisphere, Nokia’s 5G Futures Lab, the Multmedia Data Analytcs Lab and the Electrical and Power Engineering Lab.
CIN members beneft from exclusive discounted access to UTS Tech Lab’s state-of-the-art facilites and collaboratve workspaces, purpose-designed to stmulate innovaton and industry-academic partnerships.
With several industry organisatons embedded on site, it is a dynamic hub for the research, development and collaboraton crucial to realising our vision.
Inaugural Annual Australian Beyond 5G Connectivity Summit
23 August 2022, University of Technology Sydney Tech Lab, Botany
The Inaugural Beyond 5G Connectvity Summit was held at UTS Tech lab in partnership with Austrade. This hybrid event convened thought leaders across industry, research and government to explore advancements in Beyond 5G (B5G) technologies and the evolving connectvity landscape, with insightul discussions and dynamic keynote presentatons from global experts, including:
• Dr Sadayuki Abeta’s (Global Head of Open RAN Solutons, NTT DoCoMo) insights into Open RAN solutons and their transformatve potental.
• Professor Mischa Dohler’s (Ericsson) perspectves on innovaton in B5G and emerging communicaton technologies.
• Mikko Uusitalo’s (Nokia) strategies for integratng privacy and sensing in Beyond 5G networks.
• CIN Directors Dr Ian Oppermann and Distnguished Professor Jay Guo’s examinaton of privacy, integrated sensing and communicaton innovatons for B5G.
Now one of CIN’s fagship annual events, the summit was a hub for cross-sector collaboraton and dialogue, exploring challenges and opportunites within the B5G ecosystem and driving connectvity innovaton to advance Australia’s positon in the global telecommunicatons landscape.
Power Resilience Symposium
31 January 2023, University of Technology Sydney, Ultmo
Power resilience was a central theme emerging from CIN’s Second Problem Statement Workshop. The Power Resilience Symposium united over 100 partcipants from diverse sectors—from NSW energy providers, mobile network operators, telcos and vendors to emergency service organisatons—to explore multfaceted challenges, strategic priorites and collaboraton opportunites in this space.
Insightul presentatons from key organisatons including Telstra, Optus, BAI Communicatons, Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Police, Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy set the stage for productve breakout sessions, with ten working groups delivering valuable feedback to shape actonable priorites around several critcal topics:
• Informaton sharing: Improving the fow of data during crises.
• Standardisaton: Establishing consistent practces across organisatons.
• Optmised recovery tmes: Streamlining responses to outages.
• Predictve capability: Leveraging data to antcipate disruptons.
• Monitoring and transparency: Enhancing visibility of existng data to all stakeholders.
The workshop delivered a clear set of recommendatons for maximum impact:
1. Develop a data catalogue: Centralise informaton to support planning and business case development
2. Enhance communicaton on outages: Facilitate improved sharing of planned and unplanned outage data through data products, such as outage proximity notfcatons.
3. Resilience planning by site: Assess resilience at individual sites and aggregate data to understand overall network resilience at diferent lifecycle phases—planning, constructon, operaton and maintenance during both extreme events and restoraton.
4. Real-tme informaton sharing: Establish platorms to communicate power status, critcal site classifcatons and outage updates during emergencies.
The session’s focus on cross-sector innovaton and collaboraton enabled CIN to identfy high-impact areas to address in its next call for proposals, ready to address these complex challenges and develop solutons that ensure connectvity for all.
In January 2023, I was invited to speak at the Connectivity Innovation Network’s Power Resilience Symposium. It was an excellent forum that brought together our national mobile network operators and vendors, broadcasters, energy operators and Emergency Service organisations to share and discuss common challenges around Power Resilience and the impact on our Telecommunications networks and communities.
Having all the right people in the same place, at the same time, I connected with one of the other speakers over the course of the day and this facilitated and expedited our progress with this energy operator around Optus’ work on increasing power resilience across our Network. This is one example of why the CIN’s events are invaluable for driving meaningful change and aligning eforts between sectors to better prepare for future challenges.
2 May 2023, University of Technology Sydney, Ultmo
The six-month proof-of-concept demonstraton of the SMODS Platorm marked a critcal milestone in CIN’s eforts to address the challenges of real-tme data sharing in emergency scenarios. Designed to facilitate quick, secure and accessible data exchange, the SMODS platorm stands out as the only known system to incorporate the Australian Computer Society’s (ACS) Data Sharing Framework.
The demonstraton showcased the platorm’s capability to evaluate varying levels of privacy required for diferent datasets, assess environmental risks associated with data access and manage the lifecycle of datasets from creaton to secure disposal. This addresses a critcal gap in existng systems, which ofen lack practcal frameworks for secure, real-tme data sharing essental for coordinated emergency responses.
Key use cases demonstrated mult-media sharing during emergencies, involving stakeholders such as State Emergency Services (SES) responders, Surf Life Saving teams, Council ofcers and public communicatons personnel. These scenarios proved the system’s ability to control access based on organisatonal permissions, ranging from high-level insights to anonymised mult-media and raw data fles. The SMODS platorm also employs secure server-to-server authentcaton and communicaton, enabling seamless, efcient and privacy-compliant data sharing.
Paving the way for safer, more efcient emergency response, SMODS is a prime example of the power of collaboratve innovaton to drive societal impact—the very heart of CIN’s mission.
Cyber Security Symposium
6 June 2023, University of Technology Sydney, Ultmo
Addressing the growing complexites and vulnerabilites in cybersecurity, CIN’s Cyber Security Symposium gathered experts from the Department of Customer Service, NSW Telco Authority, Microsof and AWS partner Mantel Group to frame a problem statement that would guide practcal, collaboratve strategies and solutons. The event focused on four primary areas of concern:
1. Inconsistent technical standards: The challenge of implementng cybersecurity measures amidst various potentally incompatble protocols.
2. Supply chain security risks: Vulnerabilites arising from internatonally mandated manufacturing standards and the cost-control trade-ofs between of-the-shelf IT solutons and bespoke systems.
3. Cybersecurity awareness and skills gaps: The need to enhance capabilites across organisatons.
4. Disconnect between IT and OT systems: Bridging operatonal and technological security to create integrated defences.
The symposium also explored the recurring theme of the need for secure, real-tme data sharing, with CIN Director Dr Ian Oppermann showcasing the frst-of-its-kind SMODS platorm—a compelling example of the network’s ability to resolve complex challenges that have long eluded commercial alternatves.
Key recommendatons and insights from the symposium included:
• Implementng basic cyber hygiene practces, capable of preventng up to 98% of incidents.
• Developing and enforcing standards compliance, placing accountability on vendors.
• Ensuring integraton of IT and OT systems for seamless operatonal security.
• Distributng cybersecurity accountability across all organisatonal levels.
• Using AI-driven behaviour analysis to counter sophistcated threats such as deepfakes and impersonaton.
The symposium reinforced CIN’s commitment to collaboratve innovaton to deliver high-impact connectvity solutons, leading to our ffh call for proposals, centred on AI for Cybersecurity and with results expected by the end of 2024. Partcipants also identfed the need for technical guides to support organisatons in implementng cybersecurity standards efectvely. Findings will be revealed in CIN’s second whitepaper, set for release in 2025.
Industry Networking Event
17 July 2023
2023, University of Technology Sydney, Ultmo
The Connectvity Innovaton Network’s Industry Networking Event was a dynamic platorm for members to showcase their capabilites, expertse, products and services, unitng CIN member organisatons with industry leaders, the NSW Telco Authority and government stakeholders to promote collaboraton and innovaton. Seven CIN member organisatons delivered presentatons, highlightng their unique oferings and potental contributons to the connectvity ecosystem.
Alongside showcasing our members’ expertse, the event facilitated knowledge sharing, idea generaton and the exchange of best practces within the
industry. Bringing together diverse stakeholders with a shared vision for ubiquitous connectvity for communites, it served as a powerful catalyst for strengthening professional connectons, identfying synergies and exploring avenues for collaboratve innovaton.
Rapidly Deployable Large Area Wi-Fi Project: Six-Month
Demonstration
31 August 2023, Fire and Rescue NSW Emergency Services Academy, Orchard Hills
The six-month demonstraton of the Rapidly Deployable Large Area Wi-Fi Project revealed remarkable progress at the initatve’s halfway point, highlightng key technological advancements, including the development of a novel wide-beam, high-gain antenna (UTS) and a new access point with innovatve Wi-Fi protocols (University of Sydney). These advancements were supported by an intelligent backhaul system developed in collaboraton with Pivotel.
The training site locaton enabled atendees to experience the system’s capabilites in real tme. Despite space constraints, the system established seamless high-speed connectvity across a 500x500 metre range, achieving impressive speeds of nearly 10 Mbps for 20 simultaneous users, proving the efcacy and vast potental of the technology in challenging environments, including remote and high-demand scenarios. This is an excitng result achieved through efectve mult-organisaton collaboraton between the project team and organisatons such as Real Access, NBN and OneWeb, embodying CIN’s commitment to the people of NSW and beyond.
26–27 September 2023, Southern Cross University and Northern Rivers Living Labs, Lismore
The Connectvity Innovaton Network’s frst annual Regional Connectvity Symposium was hosted by Southern Cross University (SCU) in Lismore, in collaboraton with the NSW Smart Sensing Network. This one-and-a-half-day event provided an invaluable platorm for CIN members, stakeholders and community representatves to discuss the unique connectvity challenges faced during natural disasters in regional and remote areas and develop communitydriven solutons to enhance resilience.
The symposium was focused on the devastatng 2022 Lismore Floods and the vital need for real-tme, highaccuracy monitoring and predicton to improve disaster response strategies in the face of climate change. Across three distnct sessions, partcipants explored the challenges faced by local communites, frst responders and those responsible for infrastructure restoraton. During the opening session, SCU Deputy Vice Chancellor Mary Spongberg emphasised the importance of community resilience, local knowledge and actve partcipaton in disaster response.
Discussions highlighted:
• The community’s role as the real frst responders and the value of community-led initatves and low-tech solutons, such as CB radios.
• The reliance on mobile communicatons, posing signifcant challenges during disasters due to the limitatons of high-tech solutons.
• The need for community expertse and collaboraton to enhance disaster resilience.
Subsequent sessions delved into restoraton eforts, with speakers from Fire and Rescue NSW, Essental Energy, NBN and Telstra. Key takeaways included the critcal importance of transparency, access to essental sites and preparedness for rapid restoraton of infrastructure afer emergencies. Panellists emphasised the need for real-tme communicaton and fallback capabilites to ensure uninterrupted critcal communicatons and state-level legislaton compelling carriers to cooperate and share data for disaster response and restoraton eforts. Partcipants also witnessed the scale and impact of the 2022 foods frsthand on a tour of Lismore. They visited the Northern Rivers Living Labs, a collaboratve hub led by SCU, UTS and the NSW Government, connectng academic research with local knowledge to co-design adaptve strategies for infrastructure, housing and food mitgaton.
Key messages:
• Emergency services’ capabilites must be shared and understood by local communites to enhance disaster response.
• Real-tme informaton sharing is critcal at the front line, with systems requiring robust fallback mechanisms.
• Transparent communicaton and collaboraton between agencies are essental for efectve disaster management.
• Legislatve acton is needed to mandate carrier cooperaton in sharing critcal data during emergencies.
Southern Cross University (SCU) has had a great experience as a member of the CIN. The network is by far the easiest research network to partner with. Strong on university and industry collaboration, light on administration, this model really works well. Researchers at SCU have gareatly beneftted from the projects that have emerged.
More importantly, through the ‘Regional Connectivity Challenges Symposium: Building Resilience for a Safer, Connected Future in NSW’, the network tapped into local knowledge, listened to frst responders and came up with some amazing projects that will greatly mitigate the risks to connectivity posed by climate catastrophes such as the 2022 foods. We look forward to exploring strategies for post-disaster recovery with the CIN and would welcome the network back to launch their projects in the future.
Mary Spongberg, Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), Southern Cross University
2nd Annual Australian Beyond 5G Connectivity Summit
11 October 2023, University of Technology Sydney, Ultmo
Held at UTS, CIN’s 2nd Annual Australian Beyond 5G Connectvity Summit focused on the evoluton of Beyond 5G (B5G) and emerging 6G technologies. Connectng thought leaders from academia, industry and government to consider pressing challenges and opportunites in the telecommunicatons sector, speakers included representatves from Ericsson, Pohang University of Science and Technology, the NSW Telco Authority, Nokia and the Australian Mobile Telecommunicatons Associaton (AMTA).
The program explored the vision and roadmaps of leading organisatons, innovatve concepts such as utlising networks as sensors and High-Alttude Platorms (HAPs) for connectvity and critcal consideratons surrounding AI integraton, security and privacy in future networks. Highlights included:
• Dr Mikko Uusitalo (Nokia) sharing Nokia’s vision for 6G and the pivotal role Australia can play in shaping its global development.
• Dr Bo Hagerman (Ericsson) discussing Ericsson’s roadmap for Beyond 5G technologies and the global collaboraton required to achieve industry objectves.
• Dr Wonbin Hong’s (Pohang University) internatonal perspectve on 6G development and the unique contributons Australia can ofer to the global telecommunicatons landscape.
• Distnguished Professor Jay Guo’s (CIN Technical Director) insights into the limitatons of 5G technologies and potental solutons ofered by 6G, focusing on challenges such as integratng terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, environmental sensing and machine learning. The re-emergence of high-alttude platorms as a key element in the connectvity ecosystem atracted atenton from tech media.
CIN Director Dr Ian Oppermann concluded the summit with an engaging panel discussion featuring Distnguished Professor Guo, Dr Hong, Dr Hagerman and Louise Hyland (AMTA), delving into industry trends, cutng-edge research and the regulatory consideratons necessary to support the transiton from 5G to 6G technologies and advance innovaton and readiness for the next generaton of global connectvity.
these facilities for the future. These are just a handful of considerations for an evolution beyond 5G.”
The summit featured presentations from Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung, as well as representatives of the network: Director and NSW government chief data scientist Ian Opperman, co-technical director Professor Yonghui Li and technical director Distinguished Professor Jay Guo.
Rohan Pearce
“Our industry blueprints tailored for the property development sector will vastly improve the connectivity for residents and create plenty of opportunities for ASN Telecom and ALE to enable advanced services to be rolled out quickly and effectively, at scale.”
Dylan Bushell-Embling
Sydney conference mulls post-5G future
HAPS is hot again
High altitude platform stations are again becoming a “hot topic”, UTS Distinguished Professor Jay Guo yesterday told the Beyond 5G Connectivity Summit.
Guo (right) is the technical director of the Connectivity Innovation Network, which hosted the event. He is also leading a UTS team working on a key project for the network to bring 6G-style sensing capabilities to 5G networks.
HAPS is “old technology,” Guo said, but some of the technology has now matured. “Because you do not need a large satellite, we do not need to use expensive rockets… so the cost is really low,” he said. “The other thing is COMMUNICATIONS DAY October 12 2023 Page 6 because it’s closer to the surface, it has low latency” supporting direct phone connections and broadband services in a platform’s coverage footprint.
“So it’s superb for emergency services, disaster recovery, rescue applications,” he said, adding that the platforms can use solar power.
In the past one issue was stability against wind, he said, which could affect coverage. However, “in recent years, lots of technologies... have been developed to control the stability of this platform,” he said. Antennas can adjust to compensate for movement to ensure stable connections, he said.
“This is becoming a hot candidate for 6G,” Guo added.
He noted that Softbank’s HAPSMobile and Lendlease last year announced they would form a joint venture to explore the local potential of HAPS. At the time a statement from the two companies said: “The lexibility of HAPS telecommunications systems based in the stratosphere can enable the provision of high-speed LTE and 5G connectivity to locations that have partial or no coverage from terrestrial base stations. HAPS-based connectivity solutions can act as a means of serving unconnected areas…
“This joint venture partnership will explore the feasibility of HAPS deployment in Australia with Lendlease acting as facilitator, and adding value through its understanding of the Australian market, is further testament to the strong relationship between the two organisations.”
Guo also highlighted the announcement last year by the HAPS Alliance that the NT government had joined. The Territory government’s space strategy, released in May 2022, detailed a plan to become the home of HAPS in the Indo-Paci ic region and arguing that Alice Springs was an ideal location for HAPS launches.
Rohan Pearce
ACCAN reacts to TIO data
The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network welcomed the indings of the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman’s latest Annual Report showing that complaint numbers have declined notably in the last 12 months. However, ACCAN noted that mobile service complaints now account for 48% of all complaints, proportionally at their highest level in over six years. “While we understand this was partly attributed to the September 2022 Optus data breach, we agree with the Ombudsman of the necessity for consumers to have access to these services and get help when things go wrong.” said ACCAN CEO Andrew Williams.
The track record of Australian operators and their vendor partners with delivering world irsts makes them strong contenders for early adoption of 6G. But the industry needs to start thinking about the transition to the future standard, according to NSW Telco Authority director of engineering Alison Port.
public safety organisations need to be catered for in upfront planning.”
Local efforts that the Authority played a key role in to develop a Public Safety Mobile Broadband capability were complicated by a government decision to sell off spectrum in LTE Band 26. Instead it has worked with MNOs to test the use of commercial networks’ RAN infrastructure to support PSMB.
Port said that government entities also need to consider whether new regulation is needed to “position Australia for success in 6G”, potentially dealing with issues such as electromagnetic emissions standards.
Port (right) yesterday told the Beyond 5G Connectivity Summit that: “Spectrum is a key enabler, so the earlier that can be de ined the better,” Port told the conference, which was held by the Connectivity Innovation Network, which the Authority has played a key role in developing. “Having that certainty will allow equipment vendors and device manufacturers to focus on developing compatible hardware and having ready ecosystems.”
Port noted that “more spectrum is good” but added that “dedicated spectrum for COMMUNICATIONS DAY October 12 2023 Page 5
“National security risks assessed for 5G will increase with the proliferation of 6G and will need a planned approach,” she said, noting the Australian world- irst to implement a de facto ban on Huawei and ZTE playing any role supplying carriers’ 5G networks.
6G can also be expected to create new challenges around infrastructure deployment due, she said. Council development planning rules need to be reviewed to ensure they don’t unnecessarily curtail the deployment of small cells where users are needed.
“For example, small cell transmitters based in homes could be made exempt from development approval,” she said. “What about permission to transmit? Do they need to go and register for frequency licenses?
“To ensure a coordinated approach to interference, network operators would need to consider site ownership models. If you have a 6G site in your home, does it belong to you like a modem? Or does it remain the property of the network operator? Assuming you bought it, then should it be exclusively for your use? Or can anyone near your house access it?”
“Just like an extension of the wider 6G network, operators’ existing network towers will remain valuable infrastructure, providing umbrellas of coverage,” Port said.
“The network operators will also be keenly planning the best way to provision these facilities for the future. These are just a handful of considerations for an evolution beyond 5G.”
The summit featured presentations from Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung, as well as representatives of the network: Director and NSW government chief data scientist Ian Opperman, co-technical director Professor Yonghui Li and technical director Distinguished Professor Jay Guo.
Rohan Pearce
HAPS is hot again
High altitude platform stations are again becoming a “hot topic”, UTS Distinguished Professor Jay Guo yesterday told the Beyond 5G Connectivity Summit.
Guo (right) is the technical director of the Connectivity Innovation Network, which hosted the event. He is also leading a UTS team working on a key project for the network to bring 6G-style sensing capabilities to 5G networks.
HAPS is “old technology,” Guo said, but some of the technology has
“It is positive to see an aggregate fall in complaints to the Ombudsman, with the decrease in complaints from small businesses being a partic Conversely, the increase in complaints relating to and shows that the current cost of living situation is continuing to put pressure on households. This highlights the importance of strengthen consumer protections in this area.”
“Decreasing TIO complaint numbers is a great development, bu that this year alone Australians have lodged over one million complaints to their telecommunications providers. ACCAN agrees with the Australian Communications and Media Authority that this remains too high and we look forward to working with the
Secure Multi-Org Data-Sharing Project
Final Demonstration
4 December 2023, Cicada Innovatons, Eveleigh
The fnal demonstraton of SMODS unveiled a fully operatonal platorm capable of delivering real-tme, secure data sharing across organisatons, following the earlier demonstraton in May outlining the theoretcal possibilites, framework and design. The frst known data-sharing soluton to integrate the Australian Computer Society’s Data Sharing Framework, the SMODS platorm sets a new standard in data privacy and security, ensuring robust protecton of sensitve informaton while maintaining accessibility for critcal users.
Key features of the decentralised, web-based platorm include:
• Direct user-to-owner access: Enabling swif and secure data retrieval directly from data owners.
• Historical and real-tme video sharing: Facilitatng crucial situatonal awareness and coordinaton in emergencies.
• Advanced security protocols: Addressing growing concerns over data privacy in multorganisaton collaboratons.
Atendees observed the platorm’s ability to seamlessly manage and share both real-tme and historical multmedia data while accommodatng varying levels of access based on an individual’s role within an organisaton. This revolutonary innovaton powers efcient decision-making during emergency response operatons, including for largescale incidents and natural disasters, protectng lives and property and supportng frontline workers.
Rapidly Deployable Large Area Wi-Fi Project
Final Demonstration
27 February 2024, Watamolla Beach, Royal Natonal Park, south Sydney
Over 60 atendees from government, emergency service organisatons and industry partners converged for the fnal demonstraton of CIN’s second pilot project, the Rapidly Deployable Large Area Wi-Fi System. The project team presented signifcant advancements driving robust, high-speed connectvity solutons for challenging environments, including the deployment of an updated threesector antenna, refned Wi-Fi protocols and an improved backhaul system.
Though conducted over a relatvely short distance of 300 metres, the system delivered remarkably high data rates, even in areas with partal or full shadowing and without line-of-sight connectvity.
This transformatve soluton for connectvity challenges can maintain reliable connectons under real-world conditons, a critcal requirement for emergency response and remote-area applicatons.
Connectivity Whitepaper Launch Event
16 April 2024, NBN Headquarters, North Sydney
Launched in April 2024 at NBN Headquarters, CIN’s frst whitepaper, Towards Ubiquitous Connectvity in Australia, addresses the challenges and opportunites in achieving seamless connectvity across Australia—partcularly in remote and rural areas—in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Authored by esteemed academics Professor Y Jay Guo, Professor Yonghui Li and Dr Ian Oppermann, the whitepaper was developed in consultaton with telecommunicatons experts, industry leaders and government representatves. It provides actonable insights and a strategic roadmap for improving digital inclusion and connectvity across Australia.
A signifcant milestone for CIN, the paper highlights emerging technologies to create ft-for-purpose connectvity solutons. Leveraging insights from the NSW Telco Authority’s Digital Connectvity Index, the document maps disparites in digital access across regions and the critcal need to bridge these gaps.
Key recommendatons include:
• Encouraging public-private partnerships to foster local technology innovatons.
• Leveraging university research capabilites to nurture the growth of Australia’s telecommunicatons industry.
• Developing rapid-deployment communicaton networks for emergency scenarios.
• Investng in advanced technologies, such as drone-enabled communicatons and wireless sensing, for disaster response and monitoring.
• Setng ambitous collaboratve goals with allied natons to establish regional or global markets.
This publicaton lays the foundaton for transformatve advancements in achieving a more connected, resilient and equitable future for all Australians. The launch event was an ideal platorm to explore fndings and recommendatons and reinforce CIN’s commitment to driving innovaton and collaboraton in the connectvity landscape.
The release of ‘Towards Ubiquitous Connectivity in Australia’ marks a signifcant milestone in the journey towards a fully connected NSW and sets the stage for transformative advancements in technology and digital inclusion. In an era marked by rapid technological advancement, the whitepaper delves into the ongoing challenges faced by parts of Australia, particularly rural NSW, in achieving ubiquitous connectivity. Despite progress, the digital divide persists, hindering access to essential services, education and employment opportunities. The new publication emphasises the importance of prioritising digital inclusion and meaningful connectivity and outlines the NSW Government’s Connectivity Strategy aimed at broadening citizens’ access to vital services and addressing afordability.
Genie Tan Chief Operating Ofcer, Connectivity Innovation Network
29–30 May 2024, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga
The Connectvity Innovaton Network hosted its 2nd Annual Regional Connectvity Symposium, bringing together leading voices from academia, industry, government, agriculture and regional communites to address connectvity challenges in regional and remote NSW. Building on the success of the inaugural event in 2023, the two-day symposium showcased innovatve solutons, live demonstratons and collaboratve discussions to drive connectvity improvements across regional Australia.
Day 1:
Digital connectvity in sustainable agriculture
The symposium opened with a focus on how digital connectvity is transforming sustainable farming practces. Jon Medway, Director of the Global Digital Farm initatve at Charles Sturt University, demonstrated how technologies such as real-tme soil monitoring and automated livestock management enhance productvity and sustainability. Atendees gained insights into the vital role of reliable connectvity in driving agricultural innovaton.
The day concluded with an informal networking event at the Cellar Door, where partcipants from diverse sectors exchanged ideas, built connectons and explored opportunites for collaboraton.
Day 2:
Bridging regional connectvity gaps
The second day featured expert presentatons, live demonstratons and a facilitated discussion on solutons to regional connectvity challenges.
Key addresses
Dr Ian Oppermann (CIN Director) and Professor Michael Friend highlighted CIN’s projects and initatves. Wagga Wagga Mayor Dallas Tout discussed local connectvity needs and Rania Wannous (NSW Telco Authority) showcased innovatve solutons, including the Public Safety Network (PSN), Community Connectvity Kits and Broadband Connectvity Drones.
LAWIFI demonstraton
Atendees experienced a live demonstraton of CIN’s Large Area Wi-Fi (LAWIFI) project, showcasing its potental to deliver reliable connectvity in underserved regions.
Expert insights
Presentatons from industry leaders addressed critcal topics such as service parity for regional communites, emergency response connectvity and future technologies. Speakers included Peter Adams (Department of Regional NSW), Robert Hardie (NBN Co), Dan Winson (Zetf), Harriet Mellish (AgriFutures), Peter Runcie (NSW Smart Sensing Network) and Superintendent Roger Orr (NSW Rural Fire Service).
Facilitated discussion
Experts from NSW Telco Authority, TPG Telecom, Optus and Telstra explored strategies to deliver consistent, afordable coverage, including the roles of 5G and satellite technology.
Key takeaways
• Practcal solutons: Advanced technologies should be accessible and afordable for regional communites.
• Trust and reliability: Dependable networks are essental for daily life and emergency responses.
• Support for adopton: Guidance is needed to help regional communites integrate new technologies.
Looking forward
The 2024 Regional Connectvity Symposium reinforced CIN’s commitment to improving regional connectvity by bringing the right people together—communites, industry, researchers and government. The event created a space for open discussions, knowledge-sharing and collaboraton, helping shape practcal solutons for regional and remote areas. By fostering these connectons, the symposium sparked new ideas and partnerships that could lead to beter digital infrastructure, improved service accessibility and stronger regional resilience. The conversatons and insights shared will help guide future initatves and ensure that regional voices remain at the centre of connectvity solutons.
CIN will contnue working towards practcal, realworld solutons that bridge the digital divide and support regional communites. We look forward to working with our partners across sectors to drive meaningful change—because digital access shouldn’t depend on where you live.
The Regional Connectivity Symposium is unlike any other event—it comes out to the regions and brings local communities, industry and researchers together in one place. That mix of voices—people who live and work in rural and remote areas, alongside those developing the technology and shaping policy—is what makes it so valuable.
As a panellist, I saw frsthand how open and honest the conversations were. People shared real experiences about the challenges of staying connected in the regions and the practical realities of delivering better connectivity. What stood out most was the focus on solutions— bringing together the right people to listen, share and collaborate on ways to make real progress.
Jen Medway Manager Regional, Tech Hub and 5th generation farmer
Navshield 2024
20-21 July 2024, Ghin-Doo-Ee Natonal Park, Mid North Coast of NSW
Navshield 2024 provided the Connectvity Innovaton Network with a unique opportunity to trial the Large Area Wi-Fi (LAWIFI) System in a real-world emergency training exercise. Hosted annually by the NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES), Navshield is Australia’s largest search and rescue training event, bringing together emergency service personnel to navigate remote and rugged terrain under simulated disaster conditons. Held in Ghin-Doo-Ee Natonal Park, the event served as a high-impact testbed for LAWIFI’s capabilites in environments where traditonal connectvity is ofen unreliable or unavailable.
The LAWIFI System was deployed independently of the event’s ofcial communicatons infrastructure.
Positoned 350 metres from the event base, LAWIFI provided reliable Wi-Fi coverage across the camping area, supportng 650 personnel, with connectvity extending up to 1.7 kilometres in line-of-sight tests.
During the event, high winds caused a power outage at a key telecommunicatons site, temporarily disabling Telstra and Optus services in the region. As traditonal networks went ofine, LAWIFI seamlessly rerouted calls via its satellite backhaul, ensuring uninterrupted communicaton untl standard mobile services were restored. This live demonstraton reinforced the system’s potental as a rapidly deployable connectvity soluton for emergency response scenarios, including disaster-afected regions where network disruptons are common.
Navshield 2024 highlighted the critcal role of resilient connectvity in emergency preparedness, showcasing how LAWIFI can provide essental communicaton infrastructure in the most demanding conditons.
CIN presentation to French Management Delegation at AFAC
2 September 2024, NSW Rural Fire Service Headquarters, Olympic Park
At the invitaton of the Ofce of the NSW Chief Scientst and Engineer, CIN’s Technical Director, Distnguished Professor Jay Guo, delivered a presentaton on natural hazards to the Ofcial French Fire Management and Natural Hazards Trade Mission. The session took place at the NSW Rural Fire Service Headquarters as part of the ofcial 2024 Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorites Council agenda.
The presentaton illuminated CIN’s vital contributon to disaster management, translatng academic research into collaboratve solutons that enhance public safety and disaster resilience.
Professor Jay Guo revealed pioneering advancements in monitoring and predictng natural hazards such as foods and bushfres, including an innovatve collaboraton between CIN, TPG Telecom and the NSW State Emergency Services using changes in mobile signals for real-tme detecton and monitoring of rainfall and foodwaters.
AFAC Exhibtion with NSW Ofce of Chief Scientist and Engineer
3 September 2024, AFAC conference, ICCentre, Darling Harbour
CIN was proud to collaborate with the Ofce of the NSW Chief Scientst and Engineer (OCSE) and fve leading innovaton networks at the AFAC exhibiton in Sydney, showcasing our role within the broader NSW Innovaton Network ecosystem and commitment to advancing connectvity for all Australians.
Although not directly funded by the OCSE, CIN is an integral part of this dynamic ecosystem, contributng to collaboratve advancements in connectvity and innovaton. The shared exhibiton booth—featuring the NSW Smart Sensing Network, Defence Innovaton Network, Space Research Network, Decarb Innovaton Hub and the Semiconductor Service Bureau—highlighted the breadth of NSW’s combined research and development leadership, spanning sectors critcal to public safety, sustainability and technological innovaton.
Henty Machinery Field Days
17-19 September 2024, Henty, Southern NSW
At the 2024 Henty Field Days, CIN engaged with regional communites, industry leaders and technology innovators to explore connectvity solutons for rural and remote Australia.
Demonstratng our Rapidly Deployable Large Area Wi-Fi (LAWIFI) system, CIN highlighted how innovatve connectvity solutons can enhance digital access and resilience in regional NSW.
CIN Digital NSW 2024
27 November 2024, Queen Elizabeth II Grandstand, Royal Randwick Racecourse, Randwick
Digital NSW 2024 ofered CIN a valuable platorm to present its projects and mission as part of the NSW Telco Authority stand. Having previously hosted our own stand at Digital NSW 2022, this year’s collaboraton provided a new avenue to engage with government, industry and technology leaders, demonstratng how CIN is driving innovaton to enhance connectvity across NSW.
3rd Australian Beyond 5G Connectivity Summit
17–18 October 2024, Aerial Functon Centre, University of Technology Sydney, Ultmo
CIN’s 3rd Annual Australian Beyond 5G Connectvity
Summit saw leaders, researchers and policymakers converge to explore the technologies shaping the 5G to 6G transiton. The summit’s expanded format enabled deeper discussions on the innovatons and challenges driving connectvity advancements as we work to grow digital inclusion and resilient infrastructure for Australia.
Day 1:
Industry insights and innovatons
Exploring industry perspectves on advancements in 5G-enabled platorms, the journey to 6G and transformatve technologies such as AI and AR, Day 1 revealed practcal applicatons in critcal sectors such as healthcare, public safety and manufacturing and the potental to advance digital inclusion and sustainable growth.
Presentatons
• Keynote speaker Professor Mischa Dohler (Vice President of Emerging Technologies, Ericsson) explored the transformatve potental of 6G and the evoluton of 5G, highlightng successful applicatons such as 5G-enabled telesurgery, AI-enhanced extended reality (XR) and fxed wireless access solutons in rural connectvity and the importance of collaboraton on midband spectrum allocaton for real-tme, AIdriven experiences.
• Louise Hyland (AMTA) advocated for a natonal mobile technology strategy to support investment in 5G and 6G.
• Sam Stephens (NBN) highlighted fxed wireless upgrades to extend high-speed connectvity to rural communites.
• Jef Owen (TPG Telecom) shared insights on balancing legacy infrastructure with emerging technologies.
Panel discussions and expert insights
• Spectrum management and innovaton: The complexites of balancing coverage and capacity and the mid-band spectrum’s critcal role in realising 6G’s potental.
• Ethical dimensions in connectvity: Privacy concerns and the ethical implicatons of AI and XR, calling for frameworks that ensure responsible and inclusive innovaton.
• Public safety and mission-critcal networks: Integratng terrestrial and satellite networks for resilient emergency communicatons.
Day 2:
Research driving the next generaton of connectvity
Focused on academic contributons and cutng-edge research poised to shape the future of connectvity, Day 2 saw researchers share breakthroughs in integrated sensing, AI applicatons and hardware innovatons developed through industry collaboraton.
Presentatons, innovatons and strategic insights
• Professor Andrew Zhang (UTS) demonstrated how Integrated Sensing and Communicatons (ISAC) networks enhance safety and efciency by combining connectvity with environmental sensing.
• Dr Francisco Pizarro Torres presented rapid prototyping of cost-efectve and innovatve 3D-printed antennas for space communicatons.
• Professor Xiaojing Huang introduced breakthroughs in In-Band Full-Duplex (IBFD) spectral efciency technologies enabling simultaneous transmission and recepton on the same frequency.
• Professor Tao Gu (Macquarie University) showcased low-power Edge AI solutons for remote IoT applicatons that reduce connectvity demands while enhancing real-tme responsiveness.
• James Pickens (NSW Telco Authority) shared the state’s vision for digital inclusion, highlightng 6G-enabled autonomous emergency response systems and collaboraton across sectors to bridge the urban-rural divide.
• Sri Amirthalingam (Telstra) discussed the integraton of terrestrial and satellite systems and the role of AI in optmising network performance.
Key takeaways and future vision
Each session contributed to a unifed vision of inclusive and resilient connectvity and ethical innovaton, advancing CIN’s mission to:
• Create sustainable infrastructure by prioritsing environmental goals while ensuring digital equity.
• Bridge urban-rural divides by developing cost-efectve solutons to deliver high-speed connectvity to underserved areas.
• Promote ethical technology development, embedding transparency, privacy and inclusivity in emerging technologies.
The 3rd Annual Australian Beyond 5G Connectvity
Summit positons Australia as a global leader in the next-generaton connectvity transiton. CIN remains commited to bringing our bold collectve vision for the future to life, driving high-impact collaboraton between government, industry and academia to build a more equitable and connected naton.
My frst CIN Summit has been an incredible experience. I was impressed by the calibre of both domestic and international speakers, the insightful content and the diverse perspectives shared by experts from industry, academia and government.
The event’s emphasis on how connectivity delivers tangible benefts to people, families, businesses and communities across the country was truly inspiring. On a personal level, it was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with former colleagues and forge new connections. Kudos to the organizers for putting together such a fantastic event—I’ll defnitely be marking my calendar for next year’s summit!
Vincent Hochart General Manager Sales – Ericsson Australia
Our impact
Creating a connected future for NSW
In just three years, we have watched something remarkable take shape. Ideas have become acton. Acton has become impact. And together, we have laid the groundwork for a New South Wales where no one is lef behind.
What began as a network has grown into a community—where government ofcials sit alongside university researchers and industry pioneers, all asking the same queston: What connectvity challenges mater most, and how can we solve them together? This work rarely makes headlines, but it’s happening every day— in workshops where problems are defned, in labs where ideas take form, in feld trials where concepts are tested, and in the ongoing alignment of innovaton with policy.
We’re building with purpose—creatng systems that truly refect what communites need. The solutons emerging from our work are rooted in lived experience. When we close connectvity gaps, improve resilience, enhance security, or enable data sharing across critcal sectors, we’re guided by local voices, practcal insight, and a shared belief in public value.
CIN’s impact goes beyond pilot deployments or awards—you can feel it in the momentum driving our partnerships. When emergency responders, researchers, technologists and local leaders work side by side, they’re not just sharing expertse— they’re drawing from a deep understanding of what’s at stake for their communites.
These impact-driven partnerships are what defne CIN. Projects like LAWIFI, SMODS, Power Resilience, and Sensing for Disasters are more than technical initatves—they’re examples of what happens when collaboraton is grounded in real needs and focused on long-term change.
We know the digital divide won’t disappear overnight. But with each new collaboraton, each breakthrough, and each connecton we strengthen, we’re expanding what’s possible for communites across our state—and laying the foundaton for lastng progress. This journey is far from over. But by contnuing to work together, we can turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s solutons—for the people who call New South Wales home.
Access to reliable digital connectivity is a necessity for regional and rural communities. The work of the Connectivity Innovation Network in bridging these gaps is making a real impact, from innovative technology trials to collaborative discussions that shape policy and funding decisions. By focusing on practical solutions tailored to the unique challenges of remote areas, CIN is helping to drive meaningful change and ensure that no one is left behind in our increasingly digital world.
For too long, regional and rural communities have been on the -sidelines of connectivity discussions— talked about, but not always listened to. What sets the Connectivity Innovation Network apart is that they don’t just talk about digital inclusion; they actively engage with the people and communities directly afected to understand what’s needed and how to make it happen.
Through initiatives like the Regional Connectivity Symposium, CIN creates opportunities for local communities, industry and government to collaborate on solutions that matter. Whether it’s exploring ways to improve digital inclusion, discussing the barriers to adoption such as digital literacy and usability, or facilitating collaboration between mobile network operators, CIN is working to address connectivity challenges from multiple angles.
The impact of this approach is real. By ensuring rural voices are not only heard but acted upon, they are making meaningful progress towards a future where geography is no longer a barrier to opportunity.
CIN’s work is proof that when regional communities, researchers and industry come together with a shared purpose, real change is possible.
Jen Medway General Manager, Regional Tech Hub and 5th generation farmer
Strategic investments in innovation
CIN’s investment approach is both strategic and deeply purposeful—focused on projects with the greatest potental to solve critcal challenges in regional connectvity, public safety, and emergency response. Our funding decisions are guided by community need, technical feasibility, and longterm value for New South Wales.
$1.5M Federal Grant secured
A natonal endorsement of CIN’s work, this major grant is supportng the next phase of the Rapidly Deployable Large Area Wi-Fi (LAWIFI) system—an
emergency connectvity platorm designed to deliver coverage when traditonal networks are unavailable.
$1.4M Allocated to high-impact projects
These investments (fgure 1) are enabling highpotental, cross-disciplinary collaboratons designed to serve regional communites, accelerate emergency preparedness, and strengthen resilience where it’s needed most.
$100,000
LAWIFI – Gen 2 development
Incorporatng feedback from emergency service organisatons to refne LAWIFI system hardware
$250,000
TDRI Project
Addressing targeted connectvity challenges
$1,400,000
FUNDING AWARDED
$200,000
Secure Mult-Org Data- Sharing (SMODS) Platorm
Enables secure data sharing across emergency and public safety organisatons
$300,000
Rapidly Deployable Large Area Wi-Fi (LAWIFI) System
Expanding access to connectvity in regional and disaster-prone areas
$300,000
Power Resilience Platorm
Enhancing energy redundancy for critcal communicatons infrastructure
$250,000
Sensing for Disasters Solutons
Advanced tools to support disaster predicton, preparaton and response
Recognition & Collaboration
CIN’s value extends beyond technical delivery. Our unique cross-sector model has earned recogniton at state, natonal and global levels, and contnues to foster a dynamic ecosystem of partnerships, shared knowledge, and next-generaton talent.
Recogniton highlights
State and Natonal iAwards (2024)
Recognising the LAWIFI project’s potental to transform emergency connectvity and bridge regional communicaton gaps.
APICTA 2024 – Global Stage Representaton
CIN was selected as the only university-led collaboraton to represent Australia at the Asia Pacifc ICT Alliance Awards, showcasing our impact internatonally.
2025 ITNews Benchmark Award Finalist
CIN has been shortlisted for one of Australia’s leading public innovaton awards, refectng the strength of our model and the promise of our work.
Fostering talent and collaboraton
Two industry internships (2023)
CIN placed two interns with BAI Communicatons, providing hands-on experience in real-world connectvity projects.
PhD scholarships
Supportng emerging researchers working on complex challenges in connectvity and digital inclusion.
Industry–academia partnerships
CIN contnues to serve as a vital bridge between research and practce—enabling shared learning, collaboratve experimentaton, and communitycentred design.
During my time as Acting Chief Digital and Technology Ofcer at the NSW Telco Authority (NSWTA), I attended the frst two problem statement workshops hosted by the Connectivity Innovation Network (CIN). These workshops were an invaluable opportunity to engage with experts, share challenges and defne clear use cases that would later shape the scope of critical projects. I was fortunate to represent NSWTA and play an integral role in translating the insights and outcomes from these workshops into actionable plans that have since driven meaningful results.
These workshops were a game-changer for organisations like Fire and Rescue NSW. It provided a much-needed platform to collaborate with other government stakeholders and articulate the critical connectivity challenges we face daily, such as secure, real-time interorganisational data sharing, ubiquitous connectivity and cost constraints.
What sets CIN apart is how they turned these discussions into action. The Secure Multi-Org Data Sharing (SMODS) project is a direct result of those early conversations. By addressing the critical need for secure, realtime data sharing between organisations, SMODS has the potential to transform how we coordinate during emergencies, enhancing both speed and efectiveness.
CIN’s commitment to practical, scalable innovation reassures us that these solutions are not just theoretical— they are tailored to operational realities and will have a tangible impact on the safety and resilience of our communities. We are proud to have been part of the journey from problem identifcation to solution development.
Mario Zullo
IT Director, Fire and Rescue NSW
As CIN looks ahead, we remain focused on advancing connectvity solutons that drive real-world impact. Collaboraton between industry, government and academia will contnue to shape our initatves, ensuring that innovaton translates into tangible benefts for communites across NSW.
Our frst two projects, the Secure Mult-Org Data Sharing (SMODS) Platorm and the Rapidly Deployable Large Area Wi-Fi (LAWIFI) System, have demonstrated strong impact and success. In the near future, SMODS will take centre stage as we explore commercialisaton opportunites to bring this groundbreaking platorm to market. Meanwhile, LAWIFI will contnue evolving, with further advancements and deployments on the horizon. Two other major projects are also set for signifcant updates and a new cybersecurity initatve will soon launch, further strengthening CIN’s portolio of innovatons.
What’s next?
• Secure Mult-Org Data-Sharing Platorm: Seeking industry partners for commercialisaton of this transformatve platorm.
• Sensing for Disasters and Power Resilience Projects: Delivering major updates and upcoming demonstratons.
• AI for Network Security Project: Launching our ffh and newest strategic initatve designed to strengthen digital resilience
• Flagship events: Driving thought leadership and industry collaboraton through the next iteratons of the Annual Regional Connectvity Symposium and Australian Beyond 5G Connectvity Summit.
• Stronger engagement: Developing new initatves to unite industry, government and academia to tackle shared challenges.
The future
NOW NEXT
To sustain long-term impact and leadership in connectvity innovaton, CIN aims to:
1. Expand Collaboraton: Strengthen partnerships to develop solutons addressing disaster resilience, regional growth and next-generaton technologies like Open RAN.
2. Scale successful projects: Build on the success of LAWIFI and SMODS, pilotng and scaling these innovatons to beneft more communites.
3. Accelerate research and innovaton: Advance emerging technologies through research initatves, industry collaboraton and symposia on topics such as AI-driven networks and satellite communicatons.
4. Strengthen knowledge sharing: Positon CIN as a leading knowledge hub by increasing publicaton, launching a quarterly newsleter beginning and actvely engaging in thought leadership.
5. Grow the network: Expand CIN’s reach through events, digital campaigns and broader community engagement.
With a strong foundaton in place, we are ready to take the next leap in shaping the future of connectvity across NSW. Our expanding network of collaborators and contnuous innovaton are vital elements, enabling us to bridge critcal gaps and create lastng impact for all.
To continue making an impact, we need your help. Here’s how you can contribute:
1. Become a CIN member
CIN is funded by the NSW Telco Authority and its members and expanding our membership is critcal to sustaining and scaling our work. If you are an industry leader, researcher or policymaker looking to drive connectvity innovaton, by becoming a CIN member you will help fund projects, co-develop solutons and guide the future of connectvity. Membership provides access to a growing network of experts, funding opportunites and collaboratve innovaton.
2. Get involved in a CIN project
CIN funds and facilitates groundbreaking projects in secure data sharing, emergency communicatons, power resilience, sensing for disasters and cyber security. If you have expertse, technology or insights to contribute, reach out to explore how you can play a role in shaping the future of communicatons.
3. Submit a problem statement
CIN will consider, evaluate and prioritse new themes through the submission of problem statements from CIN members. If you have a critcal connectvity challenge requiring innovatve solutons, submit a problem statement to help determine the focus of future CIN projects.
4. Advocate for innovaton
Help amplify our impact by sharing CIN’s work with your networks. Whether through industry events, government briefngs or digital platorms, your voice helps drive awareness and support for critcal connectvity solutons.
5. Stay connected
Don’t miss updates on CIN’s latest projects, research and events. Subscribe to our newsleter and follow us on LinkedIn to stay informed and engaged.
6. Get in touch
Keen to discuss membership or partnership opportunites, or explore how you can contribute? Contact us at communicatons@ connectvityinnovatonnetwork.com or visit www.connectvityinnovatonnetwork.com to learn more.
Together, we can drive meaningful change and build a more connected, resilient future.
The heart of the Connectivity Innovation Network Our members
The Connectvity Innovaton Network thrives because of the unwavering commitment and passion of our members. Their actve engagement, collaboratve spirit and shared vision for advancing connectvity innovaton have been instrumental in shaping our success.
From partcipatng in groundbreaking projects to advancing new ideas, our members have been instrumental in driving solutons that address real-world challenges in New South Wales and beyond.
We are proud to stand alongside such a diverse and dynamic community of innovators, leaders and organisatons that inspire us daily. Together, we have not only built a network but also a shared legacy of innovaton and resilience.
Thank you for your dedicaton, expertse and belief in the power of collaboraton. We are stronger, more innovatve and closer to achieving our goals because of you.
Acknowledgements
NSW Telco Authority
The Connectvity Innovaton Network would not be where it is today without the vision and steadfast support of the NSW Telco Authority (NSWTA). From its incepton, NSWTA has championed the Network, recognising the critcal need for connectvity innovaton in NSW. Its commitment has enabled CIN to grow into a thriving initatve, bridging gaps and driving progress in the sector.
We extend our deepest appreciaton to NSWTA’s founding strategic leads and key supporters, whose leadership and guidance laid the foundaton for CIN’s success:
Jane Want
John Chan
Debs Majumdar
Kim Bourke
We also acknowledge the dedicaton of NSWTA’s current team, whose insight and determinaton contnue to shape CIN’s trajectory:
Edward Parker
Natalie Yu
Dee Lotrian
Shivam Kaushal
Beyond these key individuals, many other senior leaders and staf at NSWTA have played an instrumental role in supportng CIN throughout this formatve stage:
Dave Morrant
James Pickens
Dr Haiming Wang
Jack Abadee (previously part of the team)
Collaboration across government and research networks
CIN’s success is also a testament to the collaboratve ecosystem fostered by the Ofce of the NSW Chief Scientst & Engineer (OCSE). We are grateful for their early consultaton in establishing the Network and their contnued engagement through:
• Invitatons to the annual OCSE Networks meetng.
• Opportunites to contribute to key initatves, including AFAC and the Natural Hazards sector.
• A spirit of collaboraton that extends beyond individual projects and teams.
In partcular, we acknowledge the contributons of: Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte, NSW Chief Scientst & Engineer
Scot Colefax
Crista Bricaomonte
Jacqueline Aldenhoven
Caroline Residovic
Our grattude also extends to our partners in innovaton and defence research, including the Defence Innovaton Network (DIN), with special thanks to:
Bradley Williams (former Director)
Lucia Kravlova (Manager)
And to the NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN), for their consultaton, collaboraton and joint initatves, partcularly:
Nicholas Haskins
Peter Runcie
Tomonori Hu
Governance and guidance
We extend our sincere thanks to the CIN Board, Advisory Board and Technical Steering Commitee. Their strategic oversight, expert advice and technical guidance have been critcal to the success of the Network. Their collectve contributons have helped shape CIN’s directon, ensured alignment with sector needs, and strengthened the impact of our work.
CIN is built on the expertise, collaboration and commitment of many individuals and organisations. This report is a testament to their contributions and we extend our sincere thanks to all who have supported and championed this network.
Special acknowledgments
Finally, we recognise key individuals who played pivotal roles in shaping CIN’s early pilot projects:
Mario Zullo (Fire and Rescue NSW): Seconded to NSWTA in CIN’s early stages, he was integral in defning the scope and use cases of our frst two pilot projects.
Paul Barnes (Fire and Rescue NSW): A dedicated member of our Technical Steering Commitee (TSC), whose expertse has been crucial in shaping the specifcatons and directon of our pilot projects.
Mathew Ingersole (Surf Life Saving NSW): Also a valued TSC member, whose involvement in project specifcatons has been instrumental in CIN’s early achievements.
Image captions &
Only select images requiring atributon or additonal context are included below. All other visuals used in this report are either CINowned or sourced from partners with permission for use.
Page number / Image number / Descripton / Credit
2022 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Acceleraton Grant recipient Fiona Taylor with her donkey, Mary. Image by Shanna Whan, supplied by AgriFutures Australia.
Group of Indigenous children in the Australian bush. Photo by Casey Jadew.
Panel discussion on the challenges of emergency communicatons and emerging solutons.
L–R: Facilitator Rania Wannous (NSWTA); panellists Mischa Dohler (Ericsson), Peter McKechnie (RFS), Sri Amirthalingam (Telstra), and Louise Hyland (AMTA).
Produced by the Connectvity Innovaton Network (CIN), January 2025. CIN reserves the right to make alteratons to any informaton contained within this publicaton without notce.
