The SKA - the largest and sensitive radio telescope ever constructed - is expected to revolutionize the understanding of the universe and laws of fundamental physics during its over 50 year lifetime.
It will help to study evolution of galaxies, cosmology, dark matter and energy, apart from the cradle of life, probing dark ages, origin and evolution of cosmic magnetism and exploration of the unknown.
The SKA is planned by institutions from over 20 countries including Australia, India, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the UK, the US and Netherlands.
Australia and New Zealand are jointly shortlisted as a potential host of the SKA telescope. Last month they submitted their written proposal to host telescope. The submission is an important step in the international decision making process to determine the best place to site the SKA.
Apart from answering questions on astronomy, SKA will drive technology development particularly in IT. It will also help drive innovation in green energy, data processing.
The SKA will digitally combine signals from antennas from an area of around one million square metres.
International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research Director Peter Quinn said the combination of huge collecting area, versatility and sensitivity will make the SKA the world's premier imaging and survey telescope over a wide range of radio frequencies.
It will have up to 50 times the sensitivity and 10,000 times the survey speed of any radio telescope, he said.
Boolardy Station is the site of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder and the proposed site for SKA, construction for which is scheduled to begin in 2016 and is expected to be fully operational by 2024.
The site is best as it has an exceptionally high degree of radio-quietness, low population density and favourable observing conditions, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Kim Carr said.
The Australian Government will provide USD 40.2 million over four years to support the country's bid to host SKA, in partnership with New Zealand. This funding will assist Australia's bid and support pre-construction design and development work if the bid is successful, Carr said.
The final decision between Australia-New Zealand and South Africa bid to host the SKA will be taken in February 2012.