Hon Kris Faafoi
Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital MediaHon Shane Jones
Minister for Infrastructure
PANUI PĀPĀHO
MEDIA STATEMENT
New investment in rural network capacity announced today will help lift the development and wellbeing of isolated
communities as New Zealand’s economy recovers from COVID-19, Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister
Kris Faafoi and Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones said.
The Government has allocated up to $15 million in savings from the Ultra-fast Broadband initiative to improve rural
broadband capacity by:upgrading some existing rural mobile towers,upgrading wireless backhaul, which connects remote sites to central networks, andinstalling external antennae on households to improve coverage.
“This investment brings broadband services to rural households that are currently without access to the internet, and
means remote communities will be much better equipped to get going again when we exit lockdown,” Kris Faafoi said.
“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.
“The Government’s aim is to provide access to around 99.8 per cent of New Zealanders. However, while that work continues
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. The work brings forward capacity
upgrades to meet increased demand for the internet where the urgency is most acute,” Kris Faafoi said.
Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones said upgrading infrastructure is likely to be the fastest way to provide broadband
to rural households where there is currently coverage but the towers are at or near capacity.
“This work will bolster network capacity for under-served rural households.
“Broadband connectivity is crucial for kick-starting economic activity in rural areas and the capacity upgrades are
urgent.
“While New Zealand looks to put the economy on the path to recovery, we must ensure our rural communities aren’t left
behind. Having broadband services means tamariki can do remote learning from home, and whānau will have better access to
information and business and employment opportunities.
“The Government, through Crown Infrastructure Partners, is prioritising the upgrade of mobile towers in rural areas
where there are high numbers of school-age children living in households that cannot access the internet.
“This will provide school-age students in remote areas with access to the digital connectivity programme that the
Government recently rolled out to support distance learning. It means that students, particularly those in low-income
rural households, can continue with their schooling in exactly the same way as those in urban areas,” Shane Jones said.
The Government will also be prioritising the upgrade of towers that provide coverage to the most number of people, and
where it’s cost-effective to do so.
“Greater numbers of New Zealanders are benefiting as a result of government and industry working together to provide
broadband services across the country,” Kris Faafoi said.
“Investing in our rural network capacity is an investment in people living in rural areas. It means even more New
Zealanders will reap the benefits of connectivity at a time when they need it most,” Mr Faafoi said.