Digital needs surge in FNQ
A FAR NORTH TECH FIRM IS RISING AS AN INDUSTRY LEADER AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BRINGS INTO FOCUS THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY DIGITAL CONNECTIONS FOR REGIONAL AREAS, WRITES PETER CARRUTHERS
DRIVEN by a desire to bring regional and remote places into the digital age, Cairnsbased high-speed data transmission firm AirBridge Networks has grown from a fledgling start-up to an industry leader in four short years.
In 2016, Douglas Stephens founded the firm to address the poor communications infrastructure that plagued regional Australia in local government, agriculture and healthcare sectors.
AirBridge Networks specialises in the high-speed transmission of IP data over long distances to provide holistic communications and technology solutions across delivery platforms.
And people are taking notice.
Clients include remote indigenous councils across Cape York, KUR-World, Trinity Auto Group, and North and West Remote Health, and the company’s latest project is connecting Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays to the mainland.
“We have staff in Cairns, Townsville, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane and AirBridge approved contractors all across Australia,” he said.
“The AirBridge group is able to deliver civil works, carrier connections, wireless and point-to-point solutions, security and CCTV, as well as telephony, switching, routing and computer systems.”
Growing up on the Atherton Tablelands, Mr Stephens began his career as a network engineer apprentice in 1998 before spending three years travelling in the US and Europe.
Taking up a role with Telstra as a communications consultant and later becoming a chief information officer, the AirBridge executive officer also did a stint with Torres Strait Island Regional Council.
Last year, the company opened an office on the Sunshine Coast and since the COVID pandemic has leveraged a new-found need for quality networks.
“Undoubtedly, COVID has played a major part in all Australians recognising the need for reliable, robust, high-performing networks,” he said.
“As the last six months have unfolded, we have seen greater interest in our solutions as well as an expedited sale cycle, with the focus less on cost and more on reliability and support.
“It seems the old adage: ‘the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten’ is truly being recognised.”
Mr Stephens met his wife, Diana, while travelling in Minnesota and they have now
AIRBRIDGE NETWORKS’ CLIENTS INCLUDE REMOTE INDIGENOUS COUNCILS ACROSS CAPE YORK, KURWORLD, TRINITY AUTO GROUP, AND NORTH AND WEST REMOTE HEALTH
been married for 14 years, and together they have three sons – “who each find new and inventive ways to make their dad proud every day,” he said.
Working alongside Diana and his best mate, Andrew Cortis, the company’s chief of operations, Mr Stephens said he had been “overwhelmed” at the meteoric rise of the firm.
“I am very proud, not only of the business, but my staff,” he said.
But the AirBridge boss didn’t always dream of a career in information technology.
“I always wanted to be a pilot; as a kid watching Top
UNDOUBTEDLY, COVID HAS PLAYED A MAJOR PART IN ALL AUSTRALIANS RECOGNISING THE NEED FOR RELIABLE, ROBUST, HIGHPERFORMING NETWORKS DOUGLAS STEPHENS
Gun, who didn’t? So parallel to my technology apprenticeship I studied my recreational pilot licence and went solo in 1998. I didn’t pursue a career in flying as my attentions shifted to the amazing possibilities of the then relatively new adoption of the internet,” he said.
Looking to the future, the man at the helm of the AirBridge group said the highly anticipated 5G rollout would provide incredible speeds to populated areas but may not deliver super fast internet in the bush.
“With a vast majority of our customers in regional Australia, this new access will still be out of reach, and for our customers in urban and metro areas, the same network dimension considerations will need to be adhered to,” he said.
“Further downstream considerations should also been addressed regarding ageing underpinning infrastructure such as network switches and wireless access points.
“Much of Australia has been left in the dark because it is ‘too hard’ to deliver high performing networks.
“Now more than ever, it is imperative that company decision-makers ensure they are looking at the whole picture when considering a communications provider.”
This week Mr Stephens had been overseeing a huge project to bring high speed connections to Hamilton Island.