Rural broadband contract winners named

Chorus and Network Tasman have won the bulk of the work. Photo / File

Chorus and Network Tasman have been named as the big winners in $14.4 million worth of contracts to provide rural broadband.

The contracts provide for 193 provincial schools, 183 rural public libraries, 37 rural hospitals and ten health centres receiving fibre connections, and are part of the Government's $300 rural broadband plans.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams today announced that Chorus and Network Tasman had won the bulk of the work, a $12m contract focused in Wakefield, Mapua, Motueka and Picton.

A further $2.4 million was awarded to Inspire.net, Gisborne.net, Chorus and Araneo to connect 57 remote schools and their surrounding communities.

"While good progress has been made in major cities upgrading broadband availability, I have long advocated the need to bring faster broadband and better connectivity to rural communities," Ms Adams said.

"I'm equally convinced of the benefits it will bring to other sectors of our economy and society."

The Government has previously announced a special grant to improve telecommunications services on the Chatham Islands, with a condition of the grant that the three schools located on the islands receive enhanced satellite broadband.