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According to a recent estimate, around 93 percent of households in New Zealand can access some kind of fast or broadband internet. For the purposes of this article, we will define fast internet as a service which offers download speeds of at least 256kbps - the equivalent of five times the maximum speed of an ordinary dialup connection.
There are essentially two ways to access broadband:
- Fixed wire, which includes copper DSL (digital subscriber line) and fibre/cable.
- Wireless, including fixed satellite and radio-based services, and mobile 3G connections
Of these options, fixed services usually offer the fastest and most economical connections.
DSL
Digital subscriber line (DSL) technology uses the same copper wires as a regular telephone line, and generally offers download speeds from 256Kbps to 2Mbps. Telecom is the main provider of DSL services in New Zealand, which its retails as Xtra Broadband, but Telecom also wholesales the service through a large number of other providers - ihug’s Bliink service (www.bliink.co.nz) is an example.
TelstraClear also offers its own version of DSL – TelstraClear HighSpeed Internet – which is available through providers Paradise.net or Clear.net (www.telstraclear.co.nz).
Third party DSL resellers sometimes offer a slight cost saving over the Telecom equivalent or more flexibility in plans. Some regional providers such as Wairarapabased WISE Net (www.wise.co.nz) have detailed local knowledge of the infrastructure in their own areas. While the maximum upload speed for all Telecombased DSL plans is now quoted as 128Kbps, we understand that Telecom is capable of providing upload speeds of up to 600Kbps at an extra charge if requested.
To get Xtra Broadband or other DSL services you need to be within range (usually within 3 km) of a DSLenabled telephone exchange, but Telecom says a number of others factors can affect connection or the stability and performance. You can check online whether DSL is supported in your location at www.telecom.co.nz, but sometimes further checks are required.
In some areas Telecom can provide DSL outside of the normal 3km limits through fibre optic networking, but this will involve installing extra equipment. Prospective DSL users who are located outside of normal DSL coverage areas can register their interest by sending an email to broadband@xtra.co.nz.
Fibre/Cable
Optical fibre systems are high capacity systems that since the late 1980s have replaced copper on high-density telecommunications routes and the longer rural feeder routes. Many rural towns, sub-divisions and most CBD buildings are connected to the core network by optical fibre cable. Telecom estimates that 90 percent of its customers are within 2km of an optical fibre cable, and the company is current- ly testing fibre-to-the-home with a view to a wide scale roll out of the technology.
TelstarClear
TelstraClear has hybrid fibre and coaxial cable (HFC) networks in the residential areas of greater Wellington and Christchurch that can support broadband. Speeds range from 2Mbps downstream / 512kbps upstream, to 10Mbps downstream/1024kbps upstream. TelstraClear also provides broadband services on ‘The Loop’, a fibre network operating in the Nelson area. See www.telstraclear.co.nz for details.
Vector Communications
Vector Communications – the communications network subsidiary of lines company Vector is owner, operator and wholesaler of open-access fibre optic networks in Auckland and Wellington (see www.vectorcommunications.co.nz). The company also provides connections between the two cities and remote server storage. Speeds range from 1 Mbps up to 1 Gbps and Vector’s network is retailed through a number of providers including ihug, ICONZ, and Orcon.
Wired Country
Wired Country has a fibre optic network offering speeds from 256Kbps operating in Pukekohe and Papakura, South Auckland. See www.wiredcountry.co.nz for plans.
Citylink
Citylink is currently offering services to 350 buildings in Wellington’s greater CBD, with over 90 km of cable installed – it also links another 300 plus buildings with its fibre optic cable. In Auckland, the company is building a fibre-based network within the core Auckland CBD. Citylink offers 4Mbps connections designed for small businesses while corporates can use its network at speeds of up to 1Gbps. See www.citylink.co.nz for details.
Advanced Network
The Advanced Network is an open access fibre network planned across 15 cities and towns. It’s currently in its formative stages and is scheduled for completion by 2009, or thereabouts. Use will be restricted to research and related areas. It will offer GB speeds. See www.morst.govt.nz
Wireless
Both fixed and mobile wireless broadband services are available in several parts of the country and 3G mobile networks from Telecom and Vodafone have recently added a further data communications option.
Telecom Mobile Broadband
Telecom says its mobile broadband network will deliver average download speeds of around 300 - 500Kbps, with a maximum of 2Mbps.
At present the network covers Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin Airport, and the holiday destinations of Coromandel, Taupo, Queenstown and Wanaka.
By Christmas, Telecom is promising its 3G mobile broadband network will be in every main town and city in New Zealand. “Main towns” include places such as Keri Keri and Tokoroa in the North Island and Balclutha and Rangiora in the South Island, along with a couple of other recreational areas like the Bay of Islands.
Outside of these areas the 3G mobile broadband data card or mobile will automatically switch to the 2G network which according to Telecom delivers average peak time download speeds of between 40 - 80 Kbps with a maximum of 153Kbps. See www.telecom.co.nz for details of plans.
Vodafone Mobile Connect
Vodafone’s 3G mobile network, Mobile Connect, is initially available in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Coromandel, Dunedin, Hamilton, Hastings and Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Queenstown, Rotorua, Taupo, Tauranga, Wanganui, and Whangarei. Vodafone says it is currently putting together plans for the next stages of its 3G roll out but it does not have any details yet.
According to Vodafone its 3G data services use data compression techniques to deliver a “user experience” of between 300-500kbps. While the underlying speed is slower than Telecom’s 3G network, Vodafone claims that compression gives broadband-like speeds and reduces data charges. See www.vodafone.co.nz for details of plans.
Woosh
Woosh Wireless (www.woosh.com) claims it is rolling out a national network but services currently extend only to parts of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch CBDs and Invercargill. Woosh is based on 3G cellular radio technology provided by IPWireless and works through an external modem or a PC card which can be fitted to a laptop. The service offers download speeds of up to 256 Kbps and uploads at 120Kbps. See www.woosh.com.
BCL
Broadcast Communications Limited (BCL) operates Extend, a nationwide wholesale wireless network (although areas of operation are limited for now), using Line-of-Sight (LOS) and Near-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) radio transmission between end user premises and local high sites. It was designed primarily to meet the needs of rural and provincial communities, many of which are beyond the reach of fixed-line broadband technologies – although there is talk of it being deployed in Auckland. Initially BCL is providing download speeds of 256kbps and 512kbps. Higher speeds will soon be available. Extend’s wholesale services are currently retailed by Telecom (under the name Xtra Wireless), Compass, Iconz and Inspire Net, although all ISPs and telecommunications providers may re-sell Extend services.
Airspan provides the base station and customer equipment technology (based on a proprietary CDMA design) that powers the network. See www.bclnz.co.nz for more information.
The Pacific Net
The Pacific.Net operates a fixed broadband wireless network in the Nelson/Marlborough/Buller area (as well as some fibre). See www.thepacific.net for plans.
Wired Country
Wired Country – in addition to its fibre network, Wired Country provides a wireless network for business and residential users in the Greater Auckland and Hamilton areas. The technology is line-of-sight: Auckland City customers need to be able to see the black bands just below the observation deck on the Sky Tower; Hamilton customers should be able to see the Waikato Hospital; and Orewa customers should be able to see the Nautilus building. See www.wiredcountry.co.nz for more information.
Wi-Fi
There are a number of Wi-Fi networks based on 802.11b technology operating in New Zealand but most are small scale, covering a hotel or a campus. Two larger networks are operated by CityLink (Café Net in Wellington www.cafenet.co.nz) and Reach Wireless (Auckland CBD). Reach Wireless is a Public Access Internet service that operates on either on an 802.11b/g, Wi-Fi network or through connected cable gateways. It enables speeds from 256kbps to 2mbps. Telecom is also rolling out Wi-Fi hotspots to major transport terminals and services including ferries, planes and trains.
Satellite
Satellite-based broadband can provide a fast connection to almost anywhere in New Zealand. You’ll need a line of sight to the satellite, which can pose difficulties in some mountainous locations, and performance can be degraded by “rain fade.” Satellite services require a dish, usually 1.2 metres in diameter, and a decoder. One way satellite services offer fast download speeds but depend on a dialup connection for uploads, while two-way services provide fast uploads as well as downloads.
Bordernet
Australian company Bordernet took over ihug’s Ultra satellite service and now offers two-way satellite connections on both sides of the Tasman. Bordernet offers download speeds ranging from 256Kbps to 1 Mbps while upload speeds vary from 64Kbs to 128Kbs according to the plan chosen. See www.bordernet.com.au for details.
ICONZ
ICONZ X-Terrestrial provides satellite-based broadband internet services offering nationwide coverage at 256 Kbps. The company was awarded the Probe Project contract for satellite, to provide access at the fringes of the country’s broadband network. The ISP also resells a variety of access solutions, from fibre, through DSL, to wireless. See www.iconz.co.nz for more information.
iPSTAR
iPSTAR is a new communications satellite that will provide up to 40Gbps of satellite bandwidth to New Zealand. It is expected the iPSTAR satellite will offer increased speed compared to existing satellite services. The iPSTAR service will be available through resellers including ICONZ (see www.iconz.co.nz) and rural provider Bay City (see www.farmside.co.nz).
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