Govt's rural broadband plan unrealistic - Epitiro

Photo / Kenny Rodger

The Government's rural broadband initiative is big on promises that it may not be able to deliver, according to an international internet performance specialist.

Broadband benchmarker Epitiro's most recent broadband performance data suggests the Government has some way to go in meeting its targets for rural broadband users which were announced this week.

Communications Minister Steven Joyce revealed a $300 million plan to improve internet access to country areas, which would be part funded by the Government.

The balance of the $300 million bill would be met by as yet undecided private partners, Joyce said.

Just how much of the funding will come from the public purse will be announced in the coming week.

Joyce said that the dial-up internet speeds most rural users were putting up with were "not good enough in the 21st century."

He said that over 80 per cent of rural households would have access speeds of at least five megabits per second (Mbps) within six years.

But Epitiro boss Mike Cranna says the pace promise might be unrealistic.

"Currently, the average rural user already on broadband is getting just over 2 Mbps," he said. "That's a third slower than urban users and some way off the government's target of 5 Mbps in six years for 80 per cent of rural users."

"In fact the current average in Auckland is under 5 Mbps."

With main urban centres still lagging in broadband performance by international standards, the challenges of rural supply could make Joyce's promised improvements untenable.

"While developments in mobile broadband, satellite-based services and cabinetisation are all contributing to improvements in broadband performance, the rural users are the hardest to supply. It'll be interesting to see what initiatives the Minister opts for in targeting 5 Mbps."

Epitiro's data is gathered form several thousand software 'agents' installed on consumer PCs throughout New Zealand.

This method of measuring broadband speed gives real-world results, and is used to determine actual performance of internet service providers (ISPs) which often differs from advertised speeds.