"We're building the network, but there is going to be thousands of people developing the applications which will run on the network -- CSIRO, NICTA, University of Melbourne, Institute for a broadband enabled society, RMIT...", he said.

"You are seeing a lot of effort form these universities. Where is the creativity and the next application going to come from? It is going to come from the universities."

Viocorp's Dixon said Australian companies, such as her own and , were already developing applications which make use of the NBN, but that what Australia also needed was more technology entrepreneurs in regional areas.

"It would be great if we could have more software developers, more people studying in Tamworth ... and building businesses in those regions," she said.

Commenting on the prospect of the NBN being , Dixon said the amount of pushback from business if the government were to cut back the NBN would make such a move politically unwise.