High-speed broadband for the Wanganui district is in the pipeline but how far down the pipeline is anyone's guess.
Wanganui's hope of getting the ultra-quick service hinges on whether the new Government takes up the National Party's campaign policy to roll out high-speed broadband nationwide.
Broadband services in Wanganui are insufficient to meet the growing needs of the community, according to Wanganui District Council policy adviser Marianne Archibald.
Wanganui does not have a fibre optic cable. Without it, businesses and individuals cannot have internet access to ultra-high-speed internet, which neighbouring districts now enjoy.
The internet connections available, such as Telecom's ADSL copper network broadband, provide an "insufficient" download speed, and are equally slow to upload information, Mrs Archibald said in a report to council.
"This makes it impossible for multiple users to connect satisfactorily, such as an entire school class trying to use the internet at the same time."
Telecom reportedly plans to upgrade services in Wanganui but has not expressed interest in laying fibre optic cables. Individuals and businesses can still get Telecom to install its "One Office Solution" fibre connectivity, but installation and monthly fees are costly. Other businesses such as the Wanganui Chronicle and APN Print have been forced to lay another 2MB copper cable to split the daily traffic and handle the volume being sent and received daily.
APN Group Communications Manager Robbie Gernandt said present copper circuits could only go up to 2MB, whereas fibre-based networks could go up to 100-megabit or 1GB, depending on local infrastructure. Areas surrounding the Wanganui district already have high-speed fibre access.
Palmerston North has a small, privately owned fibre network, set up by a company called Digital Nation. The area between Dannevirke and northern Wairarapa was recently hooked up to it, and was driven by the Tararua District Council in conjunction with internet service provider Inspire Net.
Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws said lack of competition from service providers in the region had stalled any progress for Wanganui to receive the service. He said he wanted the Government to "take the lead" on bringing the service to Wanganui, which would mean Wanganui ratepayers would not foot the bill.
He was "heartened" by the National Party's campaign policy to spend $1.5 billion over six years to roll out the ultra-fast fibre access network across New Zealand's 22 largest cities but was concerned the plan may have changed, since the new Government had put the plan on hold. "We need to get some commitment, and quick, because every day that we don't have high-speed broadband we are going backward in our growth. It is critical we push this," Mr Laws said.
"If Wanganui is to prosper, it needs three things: good schools, good hospitals and fast broadband. To put fast broadband up with health care and education gives an indication of how much emphasis I place on getting it."
Wanganui Chamber of Commerce chairwoman Bronwyn Paul said some Wanganui businesses had been hindered by the lack of high-speed broadband capacity.
"I am aware business has had a reduction in services directly imposed on them by not being competitive with other regions [that have high-speed broadband]."
Money spent on getting high-speed broadband was not a long-term cost.
"It's an investment that is a basic core of today's business as we become more global."
The Wanganui District Council has been successful in its bid to the Government to be at least a worthy applicant for funding, meaning it has passed the first hurdle.
Mr Laws said the council would now put together a political and engineering strategy before the next council meeting early next year.
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