Principle one : assess, plan and provide for digital connectivity needs

Infrastructure customers’ digital connectivity needs must be identified at the outset to ensure that they are incorporated into the design and business case development. This will ensure installation of the right digital connectivity ‘plumbing’ to safeguard against inadequate utility and more-expensive retrofitting.  

Digital connectivity should be considered with the development of other technical plans such as electrical, lighting, data cabling and radiofrequency studies, and include future capacity considerations. Assessments should consider fit-for-purpose solutions such as fixed and mobile infrastructure, satellite (LEO and GEO), Internet-of-Things and other relevant technologies. 

Assess digital connectivity needs 

A key objective of the Digital Connectivity Principles is to ensure that users of NSW Government infrastructure have the necessary digital connectivity to meet their needs. These needs are determined by the purpose of the infrastructure, the functions it serves and the various groups of customers that access the infrastructure.

• Identify customers 
• Identify digital services needs 
• Consider digital infrastructure options

Identify customers 

The purpose and function of the infrastructure defines the customer groups. All potential customers of infrastructure must be considered, including anyone that may interact with the infrastructure. 
For example, digital customers of a hospital may include patients and visitors; medical, administrative and support staff; service providers; emergency services and others that attend the hospital.  

Identify digital services needs 

The required digital services are defined by both the purpose and function of the infrastructure and the needs of the customer groups that have been identified. 
Areas to consider include:

• business operations, community access to digital services, public safety and smart infrastructure opportunities. 
• specialised digital service needs for each customer group.  
• equitable access to digital connectivity for all customer groups. 

Consider digital connectivity infrastructure options 

Digital connectivity infrastructure options will be determined by the digital service needs, the expected volume of customers and the future technology likely to be available to them.  
Areas to consider include: 

• Connectivity technologies that may be used to deliver the required digital services. For example, high-speed broadband, mobile broadband, satellite, Public Safety Network and so on. 
• The current state of any available connectivity infrastructure, including existing coverage, anticipated future coverage, reliability, and the condition and capacity of physical infrastructure. 
• Future digital services needs and the ability to scale digital connectivity infrastructure to meet future needs. For example, increased population, infrastructure customers or data demand. 
• Existing or planned NSW Government infrastructure assets that could share digital connectivity infrastructure, taking into account availability, capacity, speed and scalability.