OMEN
02-26-2009, 01:03 PM
Communications Minister Steven Joyce has reiterated the Government's commitment to a spend up on ultra-fast broadband, while saying it would take a few more weeks to flesh out its plans.
Speaking at a conference in Auckland, Mr Joyce said the Government would invest up to $1.5 billion to connect schools, businesses, hospitals and three-quarters of homes with fibre, a sum he expected to be at least matched by the private sector.
Mr Joyce gave short-shrift to a report commissioned by Telecom, Vodafone and TelstraClear from consultants Castalia that questioned the need for the investment, saying he believed he now had "the full 360 degrees of advice".
The Government's investment would be in "dark fibre", capable of delivering two-way, uncontested broadband speeds of at least 100 megabits per second.
Mr Joyce said the answer to the question of whether the Government was still committed to the plan in light of the economic crisis was an "over-rousing yes".
"If anything it makes it even more important. The investment in telecommunications infrastructure will be an important part of sparking economic growth in the medium term."
The plan presented real challenges but "a massive opportunity for economic and social step change", he said.
The Dominion Post
Speaking at a conference in Auckland, Mr Joyce said the Government would invest up to $1.5 billion to connect schools, businesses, hospitals and three-quarters of homes with fibre, a sum he expected to be at least matched by the private sector.
Mr Joyce gave short-shrift to a report commissioned by Telecom, Vodafone and TelstraClear from consultants Castalia that questioned the need for the investment, saying he believed he now had "the full 360 degrees of advice".
The Government's investment would be in "dark fibre", capable of delivering two-way, uncontested broadband speeds of at least 100 megabits per second.
Mr Joyce said the answer to the question of whether the Government was still committed to the plan in light of the economic crisis was an "over-rousing yes".
"If anything it makes it even more important. The investment in telecommunications infrastructure will be an important part of sparking economic growth in the medium term."
The plan presented real challenges but "a massive opportunity for economic and social step change", he said.
The Dominion Post