#

Digital Connectivity Principle

Explanatory statement

1

Assess, plan and provide for the digital connectivity that will meet the needs of infrastructure customers.

Infrastructure customers’ digital connectivity needs must be identified at the outset to ensure that they are incorporated into 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 interconnectivity with fit-for-purpose solutions such as fixed and mobile infrastructure, satellite (LEO and GEO), Internet-of-Things and other relevant technologies.

2

Ensure the Public Safety Network (PSN) is available in critical locations, being areas of mass congregation or critical infrastructure. PSN In-Building Coverage (IBC) systems may be necessary where macro coverage is insufficient.

The PSN is used by emergency services organisations, government agencies, emergency management entities, utilities and others with sanctioned roles in public safety and emergency management to communicate while performing their functions of keeping people safe and protecting property.

The PSN must be available at critical locations, which are ‘critical infrastructure’, defined as a ‘critical infrastructure asset’ by section 9 of the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 (Cth), and ‘areas of mass congregation’, being locations where large groups of people regularly or routinely gather. Examples might include, but are not limited to, hospitals, train stations, court houses, stadia, major road and rail tunnels, schools and critical utility assets.

Ensuring PSN coverage availability may require the provision of ‘indoor’ network coverage solutions when macro (communications tower) PSN coverage, controlled by NSW Telco Authority, does not sufficiently penetrate the structures. A risk assessment, designed by NSW Telco Authority, will need to be undertaken by the infrastructure deliverer for each project to inform decision-making. This risk assessment includes consideration of the frequency of emergency services organisations operating at the location and the nature of their activities. Infrastructure deliverers must engage with the NSW Telco Authority if they consider the project may have sufficiently critical or frequent public safety/emergency management risks to warrant PSN IBC.

3

Ensure digital connectivity infrastructure is resilient and secure.

This principle concerns the resilience and security of digital connectivity infrastructure or ‘digital plumbing’ and not end-user services, applications or their related data storage requirements.

Digital connectivity infrastructure resilience and security should be considered on a risk assessment and business continuity management basis including the criticality and priority of the digital services it supports.

4

Design infrastructure so that it is enabled to include smart technologies.

This principle supports the NSW Smart Places Strategy and SmartNSW Roadmap, and the availability of enabling infrastructure, such as ‘pits and pipes’, but not the actual smart technology solutions themselves, such as multi-function poles and connectible street furniture, which may be installed at initial project delivery or later. Establishing future-ready utilities and conduit for fibre and electricity are central to this purpose.

5

Optimise planning and place-based outcomes through accessible data on digital connectivity infrastructure.

This principle supports efficiency through co-location and asset sharing, while reducing infrastructure duplication, such as where a new project may support neighbouring users or harness existing digital connectivity infrastructure from its neighbours. Opportunities for collaboration between agencies, utilities and industry for co-location or infrastructure sharing should be pursued.

Data should be accessible to other NSW Government users for future planning and to support the Digital Connectivity Principles and Connectivity Investment Principles.