Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, has announced that NICTA will receive $1.42 million to fund GiFi, a high-speed gigabit wireless transmission technology.
GiFi, a technology developed by NICTA (National ICT Australia), will receive $1.43 million from Commercialisation Australia, announced Senator Kim Carr last month. These funds will be granted to Nitero, a company created by NICTA researchers, which will further develop GiFi and put in the market.
“This is essential if Australia is to get full value from its scientific and research capabilities,” said Senator Kim Carr in a media statement.
“Through Commercialisation Australia, the Government helps companies, entrepreneurs and inventors take up opportunities and create exciting and new products and industries.”
GiFi is a wireless transmission system which is ten times faster than Wi-Fi and it is expected revolutionise networking in offices and homes by implementing high-speed wireless environments, where audio and video transfer can achieve 5 gigabits per second, at low costs.
“I am very proud that this technology has been developed by NICTA,” said Professor Stan Skafidas, leader of NICTA’s gigabit wireless research.
“NICTA had the foresight to see the importance of milimiter-wave gigabit wireless technology in 2004 and our success has put Australia on the global technology radar,” the professor added.
With these funds, Nitero is expected to develop GiFi by reducing its size, cost of technology and power consumption which will allow it to become commercial viable to be used in PCs, smart phones, tablets, mass storage devices and displays.
“This funding from Commercialisation Australia brings NICTA’s vision of the wireless office and home of the future a step closer to reality, stated NICTA CEO Hugh Durrant-Whyte.
“NICTA has made a significant investment in developing this technology since 2004 and this additional financial support will make a real difference to its market potential.”
