Rural broadband benefits on show

That message will be explored by two exhibitors at the East Coast Farming with Technology Expo in Wairoa in April.

Experts from Gisborne.net.nz Ltd and Netspeed will be onsite at the two-day expo to demonstrate and promote their forward-thinking rural broadband products.

Kristina Lee from Gisborne.net.nz says rural broadband in the 21st century delivers a wide range of data services and farmers should ensure they are using quality, up-to-date systems and connections.

"In addition to the internet and email, broadband enables telemetry, security systems, CCTV cameras and VoIP phones," she explains. "A sheep and beef operation – like any business – requires reliable, fast internet for tax, banking, bill processing and communications and marketing."

Heather Rivett from Netspeed agrees, saying it helps farmers with data capture and analysis, management and financials.

"New Zealand farmers are natural innovators; the internet is a tool in this process," she adds. "If farmers want to improve their business and improve the marketing of their products​ the internet is integral to these goals."

Rivett believes one of the biggest changes in the sector over the past decade is the RBI network – a government-led initiative to get broadband-speed internet into rural areas where fibre will never go.

"The target is to get a minimum of 5 megabits/sec download speed to 90% of businesses and homes," she says.

"With the 4G network being rolled out now, many RBI clients are getting better speeds than their city cousins. Previous options for these areas were dial-up – too slow for most modern software applications to run – and satellite, which is costly for small amounts of data."

Lee says reductions in particular costs are a further factor in rural residents enjoying a better, more affordable service.

"Over the last fifteen years, the cost of microwave radio equipment has plummeted, and the bandwidth and performance that microwave radio systems can deliver has increased markedly," she adds.

"As a result, broadband internet services are being delivered by small, efficient independent internet providers at much lower cost than before, and fast uncapped broadband is now available to rural users."

Gisborne.net.nz sees the Wairoa, April expo as an opportunity to share data about their "world class" wireless systems with potential rural customers. The company uses a network of microwave radio repeaters and does not rely on cellular or other third party providers.

"Visitors will be able to talk to knowledgeable technical staff about broadband opportunities in their area," explains Lee.

"We'll have examples of typical equipment that customers would expect to be installed at their premises, and possibly examples of solar equipment used for repeater installations."

Netspeed will be offering onsite, interactive demonstrations of how their products can work for individual East Coast sheep and beef operations. Experts will be able to map a path from any property to give a solid indication of whether an RBI connection can be reached, and will show software products and video streaming.

The companies agree there will be more speed and more data.

"The ongoing evolution of microwave technology will enable the delivery of faster internet while the falling cost of solar power means that broadband repeaters can be deployed in remote areas where internet service was not previously viable – more connected users with faster internet service," says Lee.

"When we started, 30GB packages each month suited most people – now 100GB is common," adds Rivett.

"As people start to use the internet they find more useful and innovative ways to use it. The innovator is the user, we provide them with the tools."

The East Coast Farming with Technology Expo will be hosted at the Wairoa A & P Society Showgrounds on April 13 and 14.

For more information, including ticket sales and how to register as an exhibitor, visit www.eastcoastexpo.co.nz