7 Feb 2011

Early broadband hopes in Northland

3:02 pm on 7 February 2011

Northland could get high-speed broadband before other rural areas as the result of an agreement between iwi and telecommunications operator Datalight.

The Ngati Whatua, Whaingaroa and Te Rarawa runanga have agreed to cover half of the $6 million cost of rolling out a fibre backbone from Auckland to Kaitaia.

Haami Piriripi from Te Rarawa, says the iwi felt they could not wait for Government funding for rural broadband.

He told Waatea News that the Datalight network model allows connection points every 1km if required, and it should stimulate economic development in the region.