Wanganui District Council's six-month wireless broadband trial has proved a success.
About 60 residents in Gonville and Fordell, who did not have a broadband connection, were given a free wireless receiver to connect to the internet for six months.
The trial was initiated ahead of the Governments' ultrafast broadband rollout, of which
Wanganui will be among the first to receive.
Powerco Wanganui Trust paid for the trial receivers, and further receivers were available for purchase.
Only 69 per cent of those surveyed about the trial had used the internet before.
The rest of the participants gave reasons including the cost, lack of confidence and lack of interest as to why they did not have an internet connection.
Trial participants used their free connection to contact family and friends via email and social media sites, work from home, access internet banking, complete homework and play games.
Councillor Philippa Baker-Hogan said the trial had given the council a clear indication that, if the internet was available and affordable, people would embrace the technology and use it.
While the ultrafast broadband network would give access to the internet for the urban area, it would not provide a total solution to broadband supply.
The rural areas would still not have access and not everyone in the urban area would be able to afford a broadband connection.
The Rural Broadband Initiative is expected to connect some rural areas but which areas and when a rural network will be rolled out is not yet clear.
Mrs Baker-Hogan said although the wireless trial would not initially be continued, it had been a valuable project to undertake.
"We will be looking into the way in which wireless access can be improved in areas of Wanganui, such as providing a free wi-fi riverfront area, which will benefit both residents and visitors to the city in the future".
The findings from the council's wireless broadband trial will be discussed at next Thursday's meeting of the community and environment committee.
