High-speed internet vital for local businesses
The lack of high-speed internet access has become a real issue for businesses and individuals in the rural Nelson region, but a solution may be in sight.
Working alongside the Nelson Economic Development Agency (EDA), an application has been made by Network Tasman, Nelson Marlborough Inforegion and Telecom Chorus to access a multimillion-dollar funding opportunity from the Government's $340 million Broadband Investment Fund.
Community Board chairman Joe Bell said the board supported the application and had included the stack of letters received in support of improved internet services.
Cables had already been laid between Ligar Bay and Collingwood, but Telecom needed to put in boosters for residents to access broadband, Mr Bell said.
"In the recent two weeks Telecom has installed a cabinet in Tata Beach, so residents can now connect, but people living in Ligar Bay still cannot get broadband," he added. "A decision will be made early next year whether or not our application has been successful."
If it is granted, work on the $7 to $8 million project would begin about the middle of next year. Approximately 69km of fibre-optic cable would be installed underground, and 20km run overhead from Riwaka to the Takaka Valley.
Fibre-optic cables are strands of glass about the thickness of a human hair through which light is propelled, and in good conditions the cable offers data delivery transmission some 20,000 times faster than the old dial-up service. Fibre-optic cables are currently linking Nelson, Richmond and Motueka, but there is a demand to extend the fastnet to rural areas to help businesses and people with simple tasks such as internet banking, filling in electronic forms, and studying, as well as downloading music, films and information.
Phil Castle and Beth Burdett run a small software company from Pohara. They are scathing about Telecom's lack of interest in delivering broadband to rural New Zealand, and feel lucky that they have the current barely-adequate broadband offering. "I don't think that Telecom or the government fully understand the importance of broadband," said Phil. "They think it's a nice-to-have rather than a must-have. It's a fundamental requirement for most modern businesses.
"As one example, our customers expect us to use e-conferencing to deliver sales presentations, training material and support over the web. This is commonplace throughout much of the world, but barely possible with the broadband we currently have.
"We feel very privileged to be able to run our business from a beautiful place such as Golden Bay. However without better internet infrastructure, few other small companies would be prepared to follow suit."
Software engineer Dylan Stamat lives on Meihana Street with his family, and pointed out how lucky he was to have a fast internet connection. "I work on the computer all the time and use the internet for work. I wouldn't do my job on the old dialup. I think fast internet would make a big difference for people wanting to live here and who work from home, and for a business it is of great help to have a website."
He frequently uses Albie Burger's BuySwapSell website, the H.A.N.D.S. mailing list, and electronic newspapers as a means of a buying, selling and finding.
"People use computers more and more, and there are great resources at your fingertips. We don't have a TV; we do everything online and everything I want I look up on the computer. I'll go back to studying online soon, and it would be impossible without a stable and fast connection. It opens up a whole new world."
Linley Butler said her Healthpost business, which sells nationwide, could not survive without a fast internet connection.
"We would not be able to run our business without fast internet-no way could we sustain it. We have three to four people on the net the whole time. We get frustrated enough with the normal problems you get with modern technology. I don't know what would happen if we were still on dialup."
Ina Holst
