Project PROBE for Manukau - Hands up for broadband in your community!

Manukau City Council will collect information on the demand for broadband technologies in the Clevedon ward for Project PROBE (Provincial Broadband Extension).

Project PROBE has been developed by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Economic Development to supply broadband communications to schools and provincial communities. Broadband technologies allow for the transfer of large amounts of data at high speeds (e.g. words, computer files, pictures, video and sound).

Dr Hanna Frederick, Council’s SmartManukau Project Manager says that the project has the potential to ensure greater access by rural communities in Manukau to high speed internet that is currently not available.

“Almost all schools are now connected to the Internet, but many in provincial or rural areas are affected by slow connection speeds or cannot afford the available high speed connections. PROBE will benefit these schools by providing the broadband access to enable teaching and learning to become more effective, and school administration more efficient.

“And of course, this bandwidth will also be available to others in the community, such as libraries, farmers, marae, community services, small and medium sized business and home users.

During September, officers from Council and Enterprising Manukau will be contacting businesses and community groups in the Clevedon area who could benefit from having access to high-speed telecommunications. They will be collecting information on potential demand and topographic data from schools and what the future demand may be from the community and local businesses.

The Auckland Region Economic Development Strategy group will then collate this information into a regional response to ensure the best outcome for the region.

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