NEWS RELEASE 23 May, 2002

Regional Opportunities For NZ Companies

The Government’s decision to provide funding support to regional initiatives for the roll-out of broadband capacity should create opportunities for a range of New Zealand telecommunications and technology companies, the Executive Director of the Information Technology Association of New Zealand, Mr Jim O’Neill, said today.

“We are keen to see initiatives that will accelerate progress toward fuller ICT and internet coverage across the country and therefore welcome these measures. As a full scale national roll out on a reasonable time scale appears difficult to fully cost-justify, this regional approach seems a reasonable alternative.

“The full integration of broadband with many of the community based initiatives is likely to encourage New Zealand players to come together in consortia to provide a specific range of services that will meet the varying needs of different regions.

“Interoperability between regional approaches will require significant attention. Technical requirements must be given due weight and consideration as progress continues at regional levels.

“The budget provisions can be taken as Government recognition of the work undertaken by the E-Commerce Task Force established by the Minister for Information Technology, the Hon Paul Swain, and supported by ITANZ, over the past two years. Regional community initiatives, such as those in the Wairarapa, are coming together well and deserve the budget support they are receiving.” – ends

For further information: Jim O’Neill, Executive Director. Tel: 025-249-5657

ITANZ represents the Information and Communications Technology industry of New Zealand; a business sector that generates combined annual revenues in excess of $11 billion. ITANZ members account for approximately 85% of this revenue and directly employ more than 30,000 people. Our aim is to maximize the economic and social potential inherent in these technologies to create advantages for all New Zealanders.

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