fbpx
Print this page
Wednesday, 29 April 2020 10:17

Rural broadband upgrade

Written by  Peter Burke
The investment will bring broadband services to rural households that are currently without access to the internet, says Faafoi. The investment will bring broadband services to rural households that are currently without access to the internet, says Faafoi.

The Government will spend $15 million to improve rural broadband.

The money will be used to upgrade some existing rural mobile towers, upgrade wireless backhaul, which connects remote sites to central networks, and install external antennae on households to improve coverage

Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister Kris Faafoi says the investment will bring broadband services to rural households that are currently without access to the internet.

He says it will mean remote communities are better equipped to get going again when we exit lockdown.

“With the impacts of COVID-19 seeing increasing numbers of New Zealanders using broadband for education, work and maintaining links with friends and whānau, connectivity is more important than ever before,” he says

Faafoi says while the Government’s aim is to provide access to around 99.8% of New Zealanders, some households in isolated regions require reliable access to broadband services in light of COVID-19 – particularly households with school-age children who need internet access for remote learning.  

He says this new work brings forward capacity upgrades to meet increased demand for the internet where the urgency is most critical.

More like this

Is augmented reality the future of farming?

Imagine a farmer being able to tell a paddock’s pasture cover and dry matter content just by looking at it, or accessing information about a cow’s body condition score in the same way.

Looking to upgrade?

Technology is constantly evolving, meaning products change quickly so you need to ensure improvements and upgrades are yielding value from day one. When looking at on farm upgrades, WaterForce suggests that the following are key questions in your investment research:

Productivity, quality and Pinot Noir

A machine-learning algorithm could help change the face of New Zealand Pinot Noir, by offering data-based decisions for optimal Pinot production.

Keeping tails clean now’s a ‘Switch’

Any dairy farmer who has taken a smack in the face from a dung-encrusted cow’s tail on a frosty morning will know the feeling and wonder how to stop it happening again.

Featured

National

NZ-EU FTA enters into force

Trade Minister Todd McClay says Kiwi exporters will be $100 million better off today as the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement…

Machinery & Products

Factory clocks up 60 years

There can't be many heavy metal fans who haven’t heard of Basildon, situated about 40km east of London and originally…

PM opens new Power Farming facility

Morrinsville based Power Farming Group has launched a flagship New Zealand facility in partnership with global construction manufacturer JCB Construction.