Far North broadband step nearer

By PETER GRIFFIN

Plans to bring broadband to the Far North could take a big step forward today when Communications Minister Paul Swain, community representatives and the country's biggest telecommunication providers meet in Karikari to discuss a broadband proposal for the region.

The proposal, drawn up by the Far North District Council's economic development taskforce, is expected to outline plans that would seek to bridge the "digital divide", extending broadband services to the Far North's population of 56,000, about 50 per cent of whom are Maori.

Part of that plan would see the formation of a community-backed "virtual telco", wholesaling broadband capacity from providers such as Telecom and TVNZ's broadcasting arm BCL (Broadcast Communications Limited), and on-selling telecoms services to residential users, schools, hospitals and local government.

Taskforce chairman Chris Matthews said that would probably require investment from the community.

Community trust Top Energy, a Far North electricity lines company, is one party likely to be involved in the telecommunications plan.

Far North Mayor Yvonne Sharp said the trust's plans would initially concentrate on high-need areas such as education.

"The vision is that our people in the Far North are as advantaged as anyone else in New Zealand."

The plan is likely to gain strong support from the Government, which has expressed a desire for BCL to open its extensive network and spectrum to other telecommunication providers in co-location agreements that would allow high-speed internet to reach rural areas of the country.

However, both Telecom and BCL would have to invest in upgrading their respective networks to deliver the desired services, and work together to provide services.

At present Telecom's copper wire network throughout the Far North cannot carry the broadband capacity that would put the region on an even footing with other parts of the country.

For that to take place, Telecom's exchanges throughout the region would have to be upgraded, something Telecom is reluctant to do unless there is significant demand.

BCL's network has digital capabilities to Whangarei and an analogue network to the top of the North Island.

BCL managing director Geoff Lawson said the company planned to extend digital services farther north in the "next 12 to 18 months".

Part of the plan would include an element of "demand aggregation", which would bundle the communication needs of the region.

Mr Matthews said that, where broadband has been rolled out in rural areas overseas, it usually came as a bundled service.

But Helmut Modlik of Arrus Knoble, a Wellington-based consultancy involved in the proposal, said there were numerous sensitive issues, through which potential technology and broadband providers would have to work.