Adelaide’s hi-tech experts powering global communications

A unique music program is engaging members of DEM MOB to teach in the Pitjantjatjara language at a remote South Australian school. Meanwhile, Codan, a company rooted in Adelaide, has transformed from a small workshop into a global leader in defence and technology, showcasing the potential for high-tech innovation within the city.

From Humble Beginnings to Global Success

Codan started over 60 years ago when three friends from the University of Adelaide aimed to help people stay connected across Australia’s most remote areas. Since then, the company has evolved into one of South Australia’s largest exporters, providing advanced critical technologies worldwide.

Global Impact and Market Presence

Codan supports defence forces, public safety agencies, emergency responders, mining operations, and humanitarian missions with its reliable technologies. The group is listed in the ASX200 and holds the third position in the 2025 South Australian Business Index.

“Our technologies are built for the toughest conditions where reliable communication or detection can literally save lives,” says managing director and CEO Alf Ianniello. “That sense of purpose drives everything we do.”

Expanding Workforce and Global Reach

Employee growth from 250 to over 1,000 in the last four years
Presence across 15 sites in Australia, the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East

Codan continues to design and manufacture technologies capable of operating in the harshest and most critical environments around the world.

Summary: Codan exemplifies Adelaide’s capacity for high-tech innovation, growing into a global leader providing life-saving communication technologies across the most challenging environments worldwide.

InDaily — 2025-11-03