The Access to Bandwidth Project supports implementation of a national backbone network for the VET system that offers both quality of service and cost efficiencies. In February 2006, NSOC agreed in principle to a national backbone network for shared content, and authorised FLAG and DEST to begin negotiations with the Australian Academic and Research Network (AARNet). The proposed network structure was:

• state and territory networks be connected to AARNet points of presence in each capital city
• AARNet provide the backbone connectivity between capital cities
• the network to carry on-net traffic only.

In addition, in late 2005 DEST announced that it would commence a three year pilot of the Australian Education Digital Network (AEDN) in 2006.

The Access to Bandwidth Project has responsibility, on behalf of FLAG, for implementing the NSOC decision and coordinating further work with the DEST AEDN project. Critical aspects of the project in 2007 are:

• determining the next stage of network design
• coordinating state and territory participation in the network
• conducting pilot projects that show the value of high capacity connectivity and demonstrate the educational benefits to target groups
• continuing advocacy for VET interests within the wider AEDN agenda
• assessing the viability of any proposed costing and business models.

In 2007, the project will actively pursue opportunities for alignment and integration with other Framework projects, particularly projects from the Resources and Innovation Program.

The project will also monitor changes in national and state / territory bandwidth policy, and technological advances in bandwidth management, and will assess these developments for their relevance to VET bandwidth acquisition.