The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre has demonstrated its technology leadership at the launch of the Federal Government’s National Digital Economic Strategy.

Announced at last week’s prestigious business technology event CeBIT Australia, the strategy launch was broadcast from the Centre via the venue’s high speed Digital Video Network (DVN) link to a major rural telehealth conference in Cairns.

The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre showcased their technological capabilities at CeBIT

The Centre’s Technical Production and Design team also coordinated a simultaneous 30-minute webcast of the launch by Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy from the venue’s Parkside Auditorium, as he outlined the benefits of creating a digital economy through the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Meanwhile, close to 1000 CeBIT delegates in the auditorium watched the launch aided by a massive 44-foot video screen – one of the biggest inhouse screens in Australia.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary in Australia, CeBIT Australia 2011 is billed as the biggest and most expensive business technology conference in the country, attracting more than 30,000 business professionals over three days (May 31-June 2).

As well as assisting with the Federal Government launch, the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre’s Information and Communication Systems team provided extensive IT support on the floor of the CeBIT exhibition.

The team established five separate and secure networks for organisers and exhibitors as well as a separate wireless network to carry regular CeBIT Twitter feed and 40 individual internet connections.

Two fibre networks were also created for exhibitors, with Sky News using one to broadcast via the Centre’s DVN link, which enables high quality live digital broadcasts to be received and transmitted from the venue.

The exhibition component of CeBIT Australia spanned 20,000 square metres at the Centre, with the event also using the Parkside Auditorium and a range of break-out rooms for its conference sessions.

Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre chief executive Ton van Amerongen said the venue welcomed the opportunity to demonstrate its IT capabilities.

“The Centre prides itself on keeping at the forefront of technology so we are very proud to be able to deliver the latest IT services at such a prestigious event,” van Amerongen said.