Telecom Improves Connections For Northland

Telecom is spending about $1.5 million in the Northland region to deliver better connections and services for its customers, Telecom General Manager of Government and Industry Relations Bruce Parkes announced today.

There are three components to the new investment: telecommunications infrastructure, mobile phone sites and removal of the last party-lines.

“Telecom is fast-tracking $750,000 of investment in the telecommunications infrastructure in Northland to increase the capacity of the network,” Mr Parkes said.

“The upgrade means faster and better access to the Internet and better phone services for parts of Northland.

“Telecom will be tapping into the new infrastructure to provide faster and better internet access for 10 Northland secondary schools as part of a joint Government-business education initiative, at a cost of a further $50,000.

“We’ll also pay half the ongoing rental and internet access charges for the 10 schools for the two year trial.

“This initiative will enable students to benefit from information technology, regardless of where they live or what their backgrounds are.

“The new investment has the potential to open up new digital opportunities and new learning experiences for Northland communities.”

Telecom also announced it expected to be delivering much better mobile phone coverage and access for Telecom customers in Northland.

“We’ve budgeted over $600,000 for two new mobile phone sites to provide wider, and better access to, Telecom mobile phone services.”

The sites in rural Kaeo and Portland near Whangarei are expected to be completed by the end of May. Telecom is also investigating other sites to improve mobile phone coverage in Northland.

Mr Parkes said Telecom was also removing the last party-lines in Northland.

“We are upgrading the phone lines for six customers in Waiotira and Waipu, replacing their party-lines with individual lines.

“Telecom is pleased that the combination of its commitment to education, to delivering a reliable and robust network and its partnership with Government will help deliver more digital opportunities to the communities in Northland,” Mr Parkes said.

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