Vodafone has confirmed further investment into its rural broadband network, with 20 additional communities set to receive 4G coverage in the next 12 months.
The new Rural Broadband service, the second launch under the new Vodafone Rural Connect brand, is now available with super-fast 4G speeds and large data bundles, utilising the company’s 4G network.
Vodafone’s Consumer Director, Matt Williams, says access to high-speed broadband has become a critical tool on the farm and in the home as Kiwis in rural areas have embraced being connected.
“Rural New Zealand is in the midst of a transformational change towards connectivity,” he says. “We’ve seen a big shift in the behaviour of customers.
“Our data shows usage has almost doubled in the last six months over our rural network as the latest technology becomes more accessible. For example, farms are bringing on real-time digital applications that improve productivity, and help keep a lid on costs.”
Launching exclusively at National Fieldays later this week, Williams says customers can sign up for Vodafone’s new Rural Broadband plans and receive a 80GB of broadband data with unlimited national calling to landlines, starting at $105 a month.
In addition to larger data plans, Vodafone is also launching new L700 modem and antennae, providing customers with access to optimised broadband speeds at a cost of $99 for a standard installation.
“Today is a huge day for rural New Zealand,” Williams adds. “We’re responding to a growing need for more data and faster speeds, which is a testament to what we’ve achieved to date with the thousands of existing customers on our rural network.
“It is just one piece of a wider story today - showing our commitment to expand 4G coverage to over 20 additional towns, and our innovative farming solution bundle.
“We’re continually investing to help our rural customers have access to the same benefits as those in urban areas, and have done so since the Rural Broadband Initiative in 2011.
"Our focus is to deliver our leading mobile network with fast and reliable connectivity to more and more Kiwis.”