Councils release broadband guide

Bay of Plenty councils have developed a guide for communities, organisations and businesses to get better broadband, to coincide with the release of the government’s ultra fast broadband and rural broadband initiatives.

The new guide identifies the technologies available and suggests ways to work with telecommunication providers to get better broadband services to their businesses, schools and communities.

Councils in the region have been advocating for better broadband in the Bay of Plenty for some time. Four years ago they developed a strategy aimed at developing more capacity and better reach at a more competitive and affordable rate.

Tauranga City Council Chief Executive Stephen Town is the deputy chair of the combined councils’ shared services company BoPLASS Ltd, and was a director of that company’s subsidiary broadband company BayBroadband Ltd, which was formed to respond to the broadband investment fund set up by the previous government.

“During that time we have seen the government change, which in turn changed the national policy towards broadband investment. Despite the change in direction the councils collectively have achieved a lot in the past four years.”

The councils have supported direct investment in alternative fibre linking the three main centres in the Bay of Plenty. BoPLASS Ltd, the parent company of BayBroadband Ltd, signed up to purchase a gigabit link that now links six of the nine participating councils.

Pricing in telecommunication wholesale rates has fallen, opening the door to more investment from existing telecommunication providers, as well as new entrants.

“Councils throughout the Bay have also seen the necessity to coordinate road opening and street and footpath upgrades with the laying of ducting to house fibre. They have also indicated a willingness to consider the use of alternative deployment technologies for fibre, such as micro trenching and piggybacking on other utilities such as sewer and stormwater pipes,” Mr Town said.

The guide is on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s website www.envbop.govt.nz.

The Regional Council’s Group Manager Technology and Economic Development Miles McConway said the guide is a work in progress, as the environment was continually changing, both in terms of available technology and national decision making that was still to occur.

“I’m confident that it is a resource that people interested in getting better broadband will find helpful,” he said.

ENDS

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