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Rural broadband initiative
![[thumbnail image] Rural broadband.](http://www.med.govt.nz/sectors-industries/technology-communication/fast-broadband/image-library/rb-125x125px.jpg "[thumbnail image] Rural broadband.")
This initiative will deliver broadband to 252,000 rural households at prices and levels of service comparable with urban areas.
It will deliver broadband peak speeds of at least 5Mbps (megabits per second) to 86 percent of rural homes and businesses. Before this initiative started, only about one-fifth of rural homes and businesses had broadband of 5Mbps.
Over half of rural homes will be able to choose between copper and fixed wireless broadband.
All public hospitals and schools, as well as a large number of rural public libraries, will receive a fibre connection.
There will also be extended cellphone coverage. Coverage will extend another 6,200 square kilometres around New Zealand to make a total of 125,700 square kilometres.
Benefits of the Rural Broadband Initiative
Faster broadband service in rural areas is likely to deliver significant economic benefits to New Zealand.
Who is implementing this initiative?
Telecom and Vodafone were awarded the tender to provide broadband to rural New Zealand.
Roll-out schedule
Read facts and figures about the five-year roll out of broadband services to rural areas.
Community input
A regional engagement programme will gather input from communities to guide the roll out of the Rural Broadband Initiative.
Information for retail service providers
Information for retailers interested in supplying broadboad services made possible by the Rural Broadband Initiative.
FAQs
Answers to frequently asked questions about the introduction of the Rural Broadband Initiative in New Zealand.
![[icon] Information.](medicons/information.png "[icon] Information.")
Find out more![[link to the New Zealand government website].](http://www.med.govt.nz/site-tools/footer-images/newzealand.govt.nz.png "[link to the New Zealand government website].")
![[link to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website].](http://www.med.govt.nz/site-tools/footer-images/MBIE.png "[link to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website].")
![[link to the business.govt.nz website].](http://www.med.govt.nz/site-tools/footer-images/business.govt.nz.png "[link to the business.govt.nz website].")
