Broadband for more Coast communities

20 December 2007

MEDIA RELEASE

Broadband for more Coast communities

Broadband capabilities continue to expand throughout the West Coast

During December broadband coverage has extended to four more areas on the West Coast as part of a joint Development West Coast, Ministry of Economic Development, Telecom partnership.

Residents in Rutherglen Rd, the Waitaha Valley, Arahura and Umere Rd Karamea are able to receive fast internet connections as a result of the latest installations with North Beach Rd in Karamea and Municipal Rd in Kowhitirangi to be connected in the next few weeks.

Getting Broadband into the Waitaha Valley is seen as one of the major success stories in this round of infrastructure installations. Seed funding from the Government has enabled the significant fibre upgrade of the phone system into the valley, an outcome that would have otherwise been unlikely in the foreseeable future.

Although places like the Waitaha Valley only have a small number of residents, their businesses contribute substantially to the West Coast economy and it is expected they will benefit greatly from the upgrade.

The infrastructure has been funded by Telecom and MED under the governments Digital Strategy Broadband Challenge Fund. The West Coast now has 97% of lines covered by broadband and is one of the regions with the highest broadband coverage in New Zealand.

ENDS:

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