The Government has recently launched its Ultra-Fast Broadband Initiative to roll-out fibre-to-the-premise (FTTP) to 75% of New Zealanders over 10 years. The initiative focuses on population centres) and has allocated a government investment of up to $1.5 billion to be invested in Local Fibre Companies to achieve this aim. A discussion document on potential measures to facilitate the implementation of this initiative is open for submissions until 27th November 2009.
In parallel, a Rural Broadband Initiative will roll-out ultra-fast broadband in rural areas, focussing on rural schools and aiming to reach 97% of rural schools over 6 years. The government investment of $48 million will be supplemented by up to a further $250 million made available through a reform of the Telecommunications Services Obligations (TSO). Discussion documents have been released on the Rural Broadband Initiative and TSO Reform and Funding Telecommunication Development: both documents closed at the end of October.
The Council has submitted to the Rural Broadband Initiative and a copy of the submission is available: Rural Broadband Initiative Submission
Information on all three proposals can be found at the Ministry of Economic Development, please click on the following link: MED - Broadband in NZ
Do you have a comment on any of the issues raised in the three proposals? or the Council's response? Click here to visit the blog
