Centralines calls for tenders on broadband

Improved broadband is coming to Central Hawke's Bay. Lines company Centralines is calling for tenders and is willing to assist the project.

A number of communication providers have already shown interest in the project after a June Hawke's Bay Today story on the initiative.

"Our broadband initiative seeks to address delivery gaps in the company's network footprint, so it is important that we open the opportunity up to all providers and, in turn, find the best solution for our customers," Centralines chairman James Aitken said.

"We are a rural community with poor cellphone and internet coverage and already our region has missed out in the current central government and telecommunication providers' deployment plans. Therefore, we cannot afford to fall further behind in this digital age."

Documents for expressions of interest will be available on the Centralines website this month and providers will have four weeks to submit their plans.

Mr Aitken said it was an opportunity for providers to step up and explain how they could remove coverage gaps and extend, or speed up, any planned deployment to deliver real benefits in the Waipukurau community.

He said the company understood providers may need assistance with their initiatives and the board was open to delivering that.

"Our focus with any proposed solution will be that it is area-wide, competitive, affordable and provides a solution that will put our community at parity with other communities fortunate enough to have attained Rural Broadband Initiative coverage.

"Therefore, we thought it was important to let customers who may be considering signing up to a broadband provider, or investing in infrastructure to enable their connection, know that as a region we are looking for a community-wide solution provider."