Release: Ihug
There’s reassuring news today for farmers and other rural residents, frustrated by unreliable access to the Internet…
One of New Zealand’s leading Internet companies, Ihug, says it has solved the current problems of poor quality links and
lengthy delays in country areas.
Ihug Director Nick Wood says his company has been trialling a new high-speed satellite service in remote areas for more
than a year.
Mr Wood says the new Satnet service sends data 10 to 30 times quicker than standard Internet connections. This allows
rural customers to download faster than many of their counterparts in the city.
The high-speed service is already operating at a number of rural schools, and is now being launched in towns and cities
nationwide.
“Satnet is a simple and affordable option which can now be used by anyone with a standard phone connection,” he says.
“The customer’s data (eg typed requests for website pages) continues to be sent out through a standard phone line. But
all Internet files are returned at high speed through a small satellite dish.
“The technology is designed to overcome the extremes of New Zealand’s physical features including high country and
mountainous regions The feedback we have had from schools and other rural users has been extremely positive.”
The new high-speed Internet service is affordable at around $59.95 a month. Equipment is supplied free of charge. The
only additional cost is a small installation fee.
In other developments, Ihug has recently established an innovative new multicast service, which can send the customers
their e-mail and news automatically, without customers having to log on to their computer.
ends