Telecommunications network provider Chorus is the big winner in the final phase of the Government's $300 million plan to provide high-speed internet to the country's remoter regions.
The Crown has selected Chorus and other preferred providers to supply $14.4 million dollars worth of broadband to schools, hospitals and libraries.
Most of the work to connect 193 provincial schools, 183 rural public libraries, 37 rural hospitals and 10 health centres to the fibre network, at a cost of $12 million, will be carried out by Chorus.
Network Tasman will focus on roll out in Wakefield, Mapua, Motueka and Picton.
The rest of the money will be used to link 57 remote schools to wireless broadband.
Inspire.net, Gisborne.net, Chorus and Araneo have been selected to do this work.
Communications Minister Amy Adams says the investment will help lift the economy's performance.
She says it's important that a remote location should not be a barrier to good quality healthcare and education.
Since beginning its work on the Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) in July last year, Chorus has deployed 345km of fibre connecting 234 rural schools and 104 fibre-fed roadside cabinets.
Chorus says it will complete the rollout by the end of 2015.
