Rural New Zealand is fast approaching a milestone where almost every farmhouse and rural residence can access city grade broadband at city prices.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the view of WISPA.NZ \u2013 the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association \u2013 following today\u2019s government announcement of significant additional broadband funding.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s an extraordinary achievement for a country with our geography and challenging rural landscape,\u201d says WISPA.NZ spokesman Ernie Newman. \u201cToday\u2019s announcement of another significant government investment in WISPs is a further step to close the gap.<\/p>\n
\u201cFifteen years ago New Zealand\u2019s telecommunications industry was the least competitive in the developed world alongside Mexico. Today its one of the most competitive. Our broadband coverage especially is way better than Australia\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cWISPs, or Wireless Internet Service Providers, have been a key part of the solution. About 30 of them supply broadband services over digital mobile radio, bouncing Internet signals from one hilltop to the next using thousands of radio sites around rural New Zealand. They are regional companies, mostly owner operated, with a strong commitment to customer service which sets them apart from the mainstream urban telcos. They represent private innovation and entrepreneurship at its best.<\/p>\n
\u201cWISPs are very skilled at fast deployment. Since they first became part of the government\u2019s Rural Broadband Initiative last year they have built many hundreds of new wireless sites in some of the most isolated parts of the country \u2013 vastly faster than the mainstream national phone companies.<\/p>\n
\u201cWISPs are looking forward to the challenge of completing the job for the benefit of \u00a0rural communities economically, socially and educationally. \u201c<\/p>\n
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Rural New Zealand is fast approaching a milestone where almost every farmhouse and rural residence can access city grade broadband at city prices. That\u2019s the view of WISPA.NZ \u2013 the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association \u2013 following today\u2019s government announcement of significant additional broadband funding. \u201cThat\u2019s an extraordinary achievement for a country with our geography … <\/p>\n