By Staff Writer

Researchers at Victoria’s Monash University have developed revolutionary new optical fibre technology that could be used to deliver high speed broadband to Australian homes through the Commonwealth Government’s National Broadband Network.

Minister for Innovation Gavin Jennings said the Monash University research team’s innovation was a significant achievement that could also change the way people use the internet around the world.

“Victorian researchers are at the forefront of the development of the broadband technology of the future,” Mr Jennings said.

Mr Jennings said the project had received funding from the Trans Tasman Commercialisation Fund which was supported by the Brumby Labor Government.

“This new technology offers a cost-effective way to increase transmission rate from 10 Gigabits/second to more than 100 Gb/second—more than 100 times faster than conventional Fibre To The Home technology,” he said.

Information and Communication Technology Minister John Lenders said the project provided further fuel to the call for Melbourne to be the home of the National Broadband Network (NBN).

“Victorian researchers are already designing technology that could improve the internet speeds delivered by the National Broadband Network, demonstrating why Victoria is considered the natural home for the headquarters of the massive project,” Mr Lenders said.

Mr Lenders said the achievement builds on the recent announcement of the $50 million Institute for a Broadband Enabled Society (IBES), which has started its research into the development of new fibre broadband application technologies.

“Melbourne is known as the home of many of Australia’s leading research institutions including IBES, the Australian Synchrotron, NICTA Victorian Research Laboratory, CUBIN and the La Trobe University Centre for Technology Infusion,” Mr Lenders said.

"Victoria is the best location for the headquarters of NBN Co. Limited and this new project reinforces Victoria’s leadership in supporting and developing innovative and job creating technology."

The technology, developed and patented by researchers at Monash University, is being commercialised by Ofidium Pty Ltd, which is backed by venture capital firm Starfish Ventures as well as the Trans Tasman Commercialisation Fund, which is supported by Victorian Government funding through its VicStart and biotechnology initiatives.