New Zealand Local Government Broadband Initiative

Prior to the recent election on November 8, the National Party promised to spend up to $1.5 billion to drive the roll-out of a "fibre to the home" ultra-fast broadband network in New Zealand.

This investment in the local government broadband initiative will help deliver the economic step change that New Zealand needs to significantly lift average incomes over time. It is expected to connect 75% of NZ households and businesses to broadband in the 22 biggest cities by 2015.

The National government broadband initiative believes it will future-proof New Zealand. Their medium to long-term vision is for a fibre connection to almost every home, supported by satellite and mobile solutions where it makes sense.

The initial goal of the local government broadband initiative is to ensure the accelerated roll out of fibre right to the home of 75% of New Zealanders. In the first six years, priority will be given to business premises, schools, health facilities, and the first tranche of homes.

The local government broadband initiative will also significantly enhance broadband access and speeds for household and premises where fibre to the home is not immediately feasible.

The National government will also take additional steps to accelerate high speed broadband roll-out to rural and remote areas, with the first step being to double the Broadband Challenge Fund to $48m and refocus it on rural and remote areas. They will work with the telecommunications industry to achieve these goals and those of the local government broadband initiative.

Independent experts estimate that the benefits of the local government broadband initiative will be worth between $2.7 billion and $4.4 billion per year. The fibre network will deliver huge economic benefits for New Zealand in terms of enhanced productivity, improved global connectivity, and enhanced capacity for innovation.