Northland Inc asks locals to push for fast broadband

Northland Inc CEO David Wilson said the funding had the potential to accelerate the delivery of UFB to more towns and faster broadband to rural areas. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Northlanders are being asked to get online and tell the Government why the region needs a share of the $360 million cellphone and broadband coverage upgrades being rolled out.

Northland Inc is compiling the region's response on behalf of all four Northland councils, and is seeking feedback from the business community and education providers, as well as residents through an online survey.

The survey opened yesterday and closes on June 3, and everyone from residents to business owners are being asked to speak up and tell the Government why Northland needs its slice of Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) extensions and Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) programmes.

The responses will be passed to Communications Minister Amy Adams, who is also establishing a Mobile Black Spot Fund.

Northland Inc CEO David Wilson said the funding had the potential to accelerate the delivery of UFB to more towns and faster broadband to rural areas, as well as improving mobile coverage along State Highways and in popular tourist areas to reduce black spots.

"The Government is looking for proposals that demonstrate a clearly coordinated regional approach, including support from councils and collaboration amongst telecommunications providers."

He said the Government wanted to hear from Northland communities about the ways they could take advantage of better broadband and phone coverage.

"For some, this will mean new business opportunities but we're just as interested in hearing from the Northland residents who might simply be able to carry out more of their everyday lives online if faster broadband is made available."

Mr Wilson said the recent Tai Tokerau Northland Regional Growth Study cited broadband as an enabler for a range of growth opportunities and a platform to add value to primary and other industries in the region. The agency has also developed a draft digital strategy, due to be completed later this year.

Northland Inc had held a number of digital enablement days which helped give a clear picture of the digital demand by businesses.

"When you get 50 to 60 businesses in a room, they'll soon tell you what limitations they have," Mr Wilson said.

Whangarei became New Zealand's first fully-fibred town last year, through Northpower Fibre, while 96 per cent of state and state-integrated schools in Northland are now connected to UFB. Rural public hospitals and integrated family health centres are expected to have access to fibre by the end of the year.

-To fill out the survey, visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/fasterbroadband.