So what is special for New Zealand in this? We need to be aware that broadband is a two-edged sword for nations as well as operators. For New Zealand, we risk becoming a nation of consumers rather than a nation of shop keepers who offer content, software, services and exciting goods at low prices via the mail. We need to ensure that the encouragement of demand and development of appropriate frameworks and institutions matches and preferably precedes the role out of networks.

*This piece is part of an online series that Computerworld has run where ICT industry figures in New Zealand offer their predictions for 2011.