NBN Co and RMIT University have teamed up to boost Australia’s broadband innovation and research capabilities.
Known as Astrid (Advancing STEM, Technology, Research, Innovation and Deployment), the partnership brings together academics and telco experts to develop enhanced broadband outcomes for the nation.
It will focus on initiatives such as developing a Digital Twin of the nbn® network for scenario planning and supporting NBN Co’s artificial intelligence and robotics programmes.
Under the agreement, a dedicated Broadband Technology Research Unit (BTRU) will be established to grant NBN Co access to RMIT’s academic talent, including staff, students and postdoctoral researchers.
“The Digital Twin will be a powerful tool for modelling the network, validating forecasts and informing cost design and lifecycle decisions. This will help us optimise network performance and mitigate issues such as congestion and outages, particularly during extreme weather events,” said Guy Scott, Chief Technology Officer of NBN Co.
“By combining RMIT’s research strengths with NBN Co’s industry insight, we can make Australia’s digital infrastructure smarter, more resilient and more accessible,” said Calum Drummond, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation at RMIT.
New career pathways will be created for graduates, particularly women in STEM, while nurturing Australia’s next generation of digital infrastructure talent.
Beyond research and skills development, Astrid’s scope includes establishing a strategic technology advisor role, co-funding opportunities with other national agencies, and developing international partnerships and exchange programmes to expand the reach of Australian broadband innovation.
Entelechy Asia 