Towers widen area for internet

Vodafone is bringing on-stream three new cell sites in Ruatangata, Maungakaramea and One Tree Point, under the Government's Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI).

A 25m monopole tower provides service to over 1000 households in the Ruatangata area, while 30m towers have been installed at Maungakaramea and One Tree Point servicing more than 2400 customers.

There are six new RBI sites in the Whangerei District - along with Ruatangata, Maungakaramea and One Tree Point, new towers are planned to be built at Matapouri, Pataua and Barrytown.

Jointly these will provide new mobile coverage and wireless broadband for more than 5000 homes and businesses.

Vodafone will also be upgrading twelve of its existing sites in Northland to deliver the wireless broadband service to rural residents.

The service, delivers not only mobile coverage, but wireless broadband via a high performance modem, adding a WiFi network into the home. Phone calls can also be made through this service by plugging an existing landline phone directly into the modem, removing the need for a landline connection.

Vodafone's business development manager Brett Sawyer says the new cell sites bring greater options to the community, with households and businesses now having choice in broadband service.

"Switching to wireless broadband can provide a consistent and reliable service to residents.

"It also offers the rural farming community the opportunity to increase production and monitoring through machine to machine automation," he said.