Mega-fast internet link for research and film

By SIMON COLLINS, science reporter

New Zealand researchers and tertiary educators look set to finally get access to a high-speed internet network in the next three months.

The network will allow local scientists to plug into databases such as the genetic sequences of various organisms at overseas research centres - about five years after most developed countries installed such high-speed links.

The Ministry of Research, Science and Technology has recommended that the Government should support such a network for New Zealand, which is expected to cost tens of millions of dollars.

The ministry's general manager of strategic development, Andrew Kibblewhite, says he is aiming for a launch in "mid-year".

But ministry chief executive Dr Helen Anderson said she did not yet know where the money would come from.

"The minister is really driving this. Our work suggests that it's very important. But it's a really big investment for the Government," she said. A discussion paper posted on the ministry's website says other Governments have spent US$7.4 billion ($11 billion) on similar networks in the US, C$2.2 billion ($2.5 billion) in Canada and £1.2 billion ($3.3 billion) in Britain.

"An advanced network is the entry ticket for international collaboration. New Zealand is now one of the few developed countries without access to an advanced network," the paper says.

Advanced networks typically provide internet data links at more than 1 Gigabit a second, or 200 times faster than a Telecom Jetstream connection.

In other countries, they are limited to research institutions that need to move huge quantities of data. In effect, the institutions "bulk-buy" joint access to the internet at cheap rates.

A consortium set up by the universities and other big users recommended last year that New Zealand should build a network linked to the six university centres and the ministry's discussion paper proposes adding nine additional centres.

This structure would provide access to within 50km of 107 of the country's 127 research stations and campuses operated by universities, polytechnics, wananga and research institutes.

As well as research groups, the network is likely to be used by film companies such as Peter Jackson's Weta Workshops, which need to send film over the internet.

High-speed growth

* Universities and other big users want a high-speed internet network linked to the six university centres: Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

* The Ministry of Research, Science and Technology has recommended adding nine in: Whangarei, Tauranga, Rotorua, Gisborne, Napier, New Plymouth, Lower Hutt, Nelson and Invercargill.