Ipswich

Our intention is to provide the entire city with Internet of Things data connectivity.

The City of Ipswich represents the trend in urbanisation very strongly, with rapid growth from 190,000 to 435,000 people by 2031. Ipswich is a young city, with a current median age of 32 and a predicted 40% of the population under the age of 25 by 2031. These younger residents, or millennials, are digital natives, growing up surrounded by digital technologies. They have high technological expectations for the services provided to them in their cities.
Ipswich wants to reinvent itself from its current profile as a manufacturing hub towards becoming a strong digital economy. Ipswich wants to create an environment that fosters innovation to achieve better economic and social outcomes. To position itself for the future, Ipswich City Council has embarked on a Smart City journey with the aim of optimising citizen engagement and decision making, enhancing efficiencies in the city and generating new economic opportunities.

The journey to become a smarter city is part of Ipswich City Council’s broader digital plan. As the city pivots towards a digital economy, it has adopted a digital economic framework that comprises the following indicators: broadband, digital inclusion, knowledge workforce, innovation and advocacy. The City has one of the highest penetrations of broadband in Queensland, leading the way in high speed broadband infrastructure.
Furthermore, in March 2016, Ipswich City Council launched Fire Station 101, an innovation hub that provides a space, resources and a community for the city’s entrepreneurs. This demonstrates a strong step towards fostering innovation, creating knowledge workers and emphasising digital inclusion. The Smart City program aims to push the digital agenda forward even further.