Dannevirke: Deal will deliver faster broadband to rural areas

Low-level satellites could be the answer for rural residents in Tararua.

Rural broadband internet specialist Farmside has teamed up with Australian telecommunications provider Optus to provide a digital lifeline for those who live outside urban boundaries.

Farmside general manager Stuart Cooper said the agreement secured superior internet access for rural New Zealand.

"More than 25,000 remotely located New Zealand homes, farms and businesses are unable to gain the full benefit of modern technology because it is too expensive for them to hook up to the internet," he said.

"In these areas, satellite offers the only possible access.

"This is a digital lifeline that will bring users closer to the rest of the world."

Farmside will access Optus' D2 satellite, which was launched in 2007 and is stationed northwest of New Zealand.

"Users will have access to a significantly improved service, with increased data caps and the fastest speeds available in New Zealand," Mr Cooper said.