Fibre broadband expansion to 95% of NZ gets green light – a win for rural connectivity
The Infrastructure Commission has endorsed a plan by Chorus to expand fibre broadband to 95% of New Zealand much to the delight of rural women.
400 mobile towers have now been delivered by the Rural Connectivity Group (RCG), says Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications Ginny Andersen.
“In the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, we know how crucial it is to have access to reliable mobile and internet services,” Andersen says.
“This is why the Government remains committed to ensuring that more rural homes, businesses and communities can access fast, reliable broadband connectivity regardless of where they live, study, and work,” she says.
“These towers, funded by the Government’s Rural Broadband Initiative, provide essential broadband and mobile coverage to more rural and remote communities across New Zealand.”
As of December 2022, the Government’s connectivity programmes have delivered the following:
- Nearly 1,211km of State Highway have gained mobile coverage;
- 114 tourist spots have mobile coverage;
- More than 600 marae have been connected to broadband; and
- Approximately 80,000 rural homes and businesses now have access to improved broadband.
The additional $43 million announced in Budget 2022 for further rural capacity upgrades means the total of allocated funding to the rural broadband network totals over $100 million.
In addition to the RCG, Government has also partnered with 15 Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) across the country to deliver rural broadband coverage under the Rural Broadband Initiative. These partners provide wireless rural broadband to remote and rural areas.
“The ongoing success of RCG and other Government and industry investment is creating a strong foundation for New Zealand’s connectivity,” Andersen says.
“I commend the RCG for the work they have done to date to ensure New Zealand continues to be well connected.”
