Trust speeds the net deep into rural NZ

The Otago Community Trust has got broadband internet access for Otago high schools in a way which could bridge the digital divide in rural New Zealand.

Chairman Clive Mathewson said the trust, a similar organisation to Auckland's ASB Trust, had spent millions of dollars putting computers into schools.

"The schools weren't able to use those computers to their full potential because they couldn't connect at any reasonable speed to the internet," Mr Mathewson said.

"We went to both Telecom and BCL (Broadcast Communications) and said, 'Tell us what your problem is providing fast access to those areas, and we'll see what we can do to solve it'."

After talks, the trust put up $236,000 to underwrite a Telecom upgrade of between 10 and 13 small exchanges to handle ADSL (Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line), which increases the data speeds available through existing phone lines.

"If we get more than 30 subscribers in an exchange, we give the trust its money back," said Bruce Parkes, Telecom's general manager of Government and industry relations.

"We're treating this as an experiment in marketing broadband to small communities. We expected to get some demand but not enough to justify our investment, which is where the trust stepped in to share the risk."

Mr Mathewson said it was a cheap way to get a significant benefit for the whole community.

"It's not just the schools which can get fast access: this is an economic development thing for businesses, health providers, local government and Government departments."

The upgrades should be completed by December 1.

Tony Jenkins, the principal of East Otago High School in Palmerston, said the extra bandwidth would allow schools in the region to share resources and try new teaching methods, particularly for the senior years.

At present, if a rural high school cannot offer a subject, students must do without or use paper-based material from the Correspondence School.

"We will be able to do video-conferencing, which means if a school is not able to offer a subject at a senior level, the students can join in a class at another school," Mr Jenkins said.

The Minister of Education, Trevor Mallard, spoke from Melbourne to the launch briefing in Dunedin yesterday by video link.

He said the Government had allocated $100,000 towards the costs of video-conferencing equipment needed by the Otago schools.

"The venture fits exactly with the Government's long-term strategy for getting regional and rural New Zealand wired into broadband. The Government wants to see more of this sort of innovation involving business and the community."

Ian Taylor, of Dunedin digital graphics pioneer Animation Research, who also spoke at the launch, said the scheme was an example of what could be done when government and Government bureaucrats were not involved.

"This was pulled off in under three months, and it could be happening all over the country," Mr Taylor said.

"When the bureaucrats get involved there is too much talking, because people are trying to future-proof something which can't be future-proofed."

He said ubiquitous broadband was needed to make New Zealand competitive.

"Having it is not an advantage but a way of levelling the playing field. The way New Zealanders will use it will give us the advantage, because we are cleverer than a lot of people and we think differently."