A Faster Future featured on ITJourno site

Since starting this project we’ve had a lot of requests from people wanting to know more. So it was great when the team at ITJourno contacted us to find out what A Faster Future is all about. The article is locked behind a paywall at the MediaConnect site, but news editor (and recently appointed features editor at Nett magazine) Jo Hui gave us permission to run the story here.

Howarth duo creates ‘A Faster Future’
by Jo-Anne Hui for Media News on Tuesday, 13th April 2010 at 9:32am

Freelance journalist Brad Howarth and fiancée Janelle Ledwidge are exploring the development of broadband in their soon-to-be-launched book, ‘A Faster Future’.

“We’re both fascinated by the digital media industry and broadband in general and we’re heavy users of online services. It’s a passion and interest in trying to understand what the future might hold and the way we’re doing it,” said Howarth.

Up until now, there’s been much emphasis on the National Broadband Network as an infrastructure project, but not much discussion about the services that will evolve from it, said Ledwidge.

“When the proposal for the NBN was first raised, a lot of people asked and are still asking what the network would be used for,” she said. “This is a look into the future of broadband applications and services. The idea is not to tie it completely to the NBN; this is an exploration of the future. Given what has been happening in the US with Google’s proposal to roll out high speed broadband, right now is the time to look at what the future of broadband might be.”
Ledwidge has worked in digital media and communications for 13 years with numerous Australian digital media and ICT companies. At the moment, she works as a coach and industry specialist export advisor and has delivered Austrade’s TradeStart Program for the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association since 2003.
Howarth and Ledwidge have been looking for an opportunity to collaborate on a project together for some time and to draw upon their knowledge of digital communications. In 2003, Howarth published his book, ‘Innovation and Emerging Markets – Where the Next Bulls Will Run’, a study on the issues confronting emerging Australian technology companies as they strive to commercialise their innovations.
In addition to the book, the duo have also launched a blog of the same name, where they provide news, links and stories related to high-speed broadband services. ‘A Faster Future’ is slated to launch in the second half of the year and at the moment, the pair are in the research phase and in negotiations with an international publisher.
Both have spoken to several media companies in Australia and travelled overseas to gather a wide spectrum of varying opinions and perspectives. Most recently, the pair went to New York to follow Austrade’s Digital Media Mission, where they made contact with industry leaders and other experts with a point of view on the subject. Howarth also spent time with marketing guru, blogger and author Seth Godin.
“We’ve been actively going out into the world and talking to people who have viewpoints on this and we’re having discussions with consumers, a number of people from ISPs and a lot of commentators out there who have interesting views. It’s not just us putting it together. We’re looking to people in the marketplace who have knowledge that we can use to help them help other people,” he said.

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