Broadband claims disputed

Regional internet service providers, including Taranaki's PrimoWireless, are crying foul at Vodafone's claims it will provide rural New Zealanders with access to broadband internet for the first time. In April the Government awarded Telecom and Vodafone the $285 million infrastructure contract to "bring more and faster broadband to rural areas over the next six years". A press release for the two companies said "rural customers would have not only faster data services but also a much wider choice of technologies and suppliers for these services." Smaller internet service providers (ISPs), such as Taranaki's PrimoWireless, said these statements were misleading. PrimoWireless managing director Matthew Harrison said Vodafone was obliged to provide broadband at a minimum of five megabits per second, a speed his company had been delivering for years. It had been providing rural Taranaki residents with broadband internet since May 2007. It had hundreds of satisfied rural customers who were connected to its network, which covered most areas in rural Taranaki except for a small part of South Taranaki. The network, which had 35 access points, cost PrimoWireless about $500,000 to set up, he said. "Just ask any of our customers what it's like," Harrison said. "They love it. One of those customers was Cedar Lodge Nurseries on Egmont Rd, which had been with PrimoWireless for a number of years. Nursery co-owner Pip McVicar said they had fast and reliable broadband as well as three phone lines and saved a considerable amount of money each year. "We certainly save a heck of a lot of money. "They're heaps cheaper and it's a good service," McVicar said. Customer service was also of a high standard, she said. "They're a great team out there and always help us out with all the questions we might have." PrimoWireless also had big name customers including Todd Energy, Tag Oil and the Stratford District Council. Northland-based ISP Uber Group had been providing wireless broadband in rural Northland since 2003 and had more than 100 transmission sites. Managing director Hayden Simon said Vodafone was not providing anything new. "There will be people who benefit, don't get me wrong, but I don't think what they're saying is right," Simon said. After he released a media statement opposing the claims, Vodafone phoned him with an apology, he said. "Time and time again I hear that there has been no coverage in rural areas and it's simply untrue." Vodafone external communications manager Michelle Baguley said Vodafone had called Simon apologising for any offence caused but stressed it was not an apology for the claims. "We don't apologise for saying it because it's completely true," she said. The Rural Broadband Initiative was "not about a monopoly or duopoly it's about providing choices". "We totally accept there's ISPs out there doing great stuff in local communities but we're opening up other parts of the country that have never had the services or the choice of providers before."