SNG Selected by Two North American Regions to Drive Broadband’s Benefits
Greetings and Happy New Year from each and every one of us at SNG in our offices across the globe, from North America, to Europe, to Australia. Already we’ve hit the ground running in what’s sure to be a big year from Broadband with stimulus hitting its stride, from America to Australia. We look forward to providing you with our latest findings in the coming months.
First, we wanted to provide you with what we hope to be something to get you inspired as we share about our two latest projects. Is your region taking a serious step towards driving a 21st century economy, or are you just building networks? If the answer is the former, you’d fit in nicely with our two latest clients. And we’d love to lend our expertise.
Illinois and SNG Announce Partnership
Partnership for a Connected Illinois Announces Partnership with Strategic Networks Group to Drive Meaningful Broadband Use, Innovation, and Economic Development
SNG and the Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs Engaged to help Maximize Broadband’s Potential
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, January 4, 2012 – The Partnership for a Connected Illinois , also known through its Broadband Illinois website, today announced further efforts to utilize broadband for driving better learning tools for school children, growing the Sta 
te’s job base, driving innovation and increasing economic prosperity, and improving health care.
PCI will work in a partnership with Strategic Networks Group (SNG) and the Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs in order to maximize the benefit of public and private-sector investments in broadband deployment and use. These investments have the potential to be a transformative investment for Illinois’ 21st century competitiveness.
The PCI initiative includes a state broadband strategy, informed by statewide research to measure broadband’s utilization and identify gaps. The result will be a statewide broadband plan preparing Illinois to be a leader in job creation and economic growth, education, medical innovation and quality of life. Another output of the research will be reports to individual organizations to help them understand how they can become more competitive through broadband.
“By developing a statewide broadband strategy for better broadband, we’re creating a future that includes economic opportunities, increased availability of educational tools, and higher-quality health care for Illinois residents,” said Drew Clark, executive director of PCI. “Better broadband means better lives. Our mission is to make high-speed broadband internet available to residents throughout Illinois.”
In developing a statewide broadband plan, the Partnership for a Connected Illinois is conducting statewide research on behalf of the State of Illinois in order to develop strategies that will position Illinois to be a leader in job creation and economic growth, education, medical innovation and quality of life.
Illinois turned to SNG due to their proven track record with maximizing broadband investment in more than 10 states, and in other regions throughout the world. The solutions that SNG brings to bear will help Illinois ensure that its broadband investment has deep, meaningful, and lasting impacts.
Partnering with SNG in support of this initiative is the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs of Western Illinois University, which will help provide a statewide approach to accelerate the understanding and meaningful use of broadband for global competitiveness, job creation, and socio-economic impacts.
“Forward-looking governments understand the direct benefits that broadband and e-solutions bring, including increasing competitiveness, productivity, and revenues,” explains Michael Curri, president of SNG. “We’re delighted that Illinois is embracing the process of turning broadband’s potential into a strategy to create jobs, retain and attract businesses, and improve the overall quality of life of its citizens.”
About Partnership for a Connected Illinois (PCI)
PCI, also known for its Broadband Illinois website, is a non-profit entity working on behalf of the State of Illinois. PCI collects data about broadband availability and works with local providers and communities to make high-speed broadband available throughout the state. PCI is also working to improve the adoption and enhance the impact of broadband in Illinois. Learn more about PCI at broadbandillinois.org.
About Strategic Networks Group
SNG is a group of broadband economists who develop strategies for most effectively leveraging broadband investments. SNG looks to help make the most broad-reaching and transformational impacts that broadband can bring enable businesses, communities and regions by delivering the data and analysis decision makers need to maximize broadband’s potential. SNG’s goals: economic development, social advancement, increased productivity and competiveness. Learn more about SNG online at www.sngroup.com and discover how broadband market analytics can accelerate regional economic development.
About the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
IIRA is a unit of Western Illinois University and has served the people of rural Illinois since 1989. Its mission is “to improve the quality of life for rural residents by partnering with public and private agencies on local development and enhancement efforts.” The IIRA’s 40-member staff delivers on its mission through its research and outreach efforts.
Click to see this announcement on PCI’s website.
SNG Hard at Work in Canada’s Arctic
The Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation (NBDC) in Canada’s Arctic recently engaged SNG to measure the impacts-to-date of broadband investments and to forecast broadband needs and investment levels required to meet those needs.
NBDC is a not-for-profit, federally registered corporation with a membership representing community, private sector and citizen interests. This project is made possible with funding support from CanNor.
Over the next few months, SNG will conduct an assessment of the socioeconomic impact of broadband in Nunavut, which will:
- Establish and implement a framework to provide an assessment of the socioeconomic impact of broadband in Nunavut for to the Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation
- Measure the benefits of broadband in monetary and qualitative terms as they relate to regional businesses, residential customers, communities, and nongovernmental organizations
- Show both the economic and social impacts of broadband
- Forecast future demand for Broadband in Nunavut
- Present three investment scenarios for broadband in Nunavut, including the socioeconomic costs and benefits of each scenario
We’re excited to help this area of Canada harness the power of broadband. Stay tuned in 2012 for our findings and how broadband can impact even the most sparsely populated regions.
Fibre to the Home Council Europe
Attending the Fibre to the Home Conference in Munich February 15th and 16th? If so, make sure to stop by to say “Hi” to Michael Curri and take in his presentation at 14:30 on the 15th, Socio-economic Benefits of FTTH Networks.
Learn More About the Conference>>