Eighteen companies have been invited to tender for Project Probe, the Government's broadband project to ensure all schools and communities have access to high speed internet services by the end of 2004.

Project Director Tony van Horik said a large number of quality responses had been received to the request for information (RFI) for Project Probe.

"The response has been very encouraging and demonstrates strong competition in the sector.  We have carefully evaluated all the responses received and as a result will invite 18 potential suppliers to participate in our Request for Proposal (RFP)."

The suppliers are:  Apertura; Counties Power; E-Comm Pacific; IHUG / BCL; Intelsat; Network Tasman; NZ Sprint / BCL; Rural Networks; South Waikato Networks; Tangent / BCL / Powerco; Telecom / BCL; TelstraClear; The Lines Company; The Pacific.net; UCC Technologies; United Networks Communications; ViaSat / PacAmTel; and Vodafone / Walker Wireless.

Mr van Horik said tenderers participating in the RFP needed to produce proposals to provide services over an entire region.  "This means that more localised suppliers may need to form consortiums if they are not able to cover an entire region on their own."

He added that in developing the RFPs the project team would be talking to each region about their particular requirements.  "Each region is different and the whole point here is to develop an infrastructure capable of meeting regional needs and the Government's policy objectives.  As we develop each RFP we'll be working with regions to take their requirements into account."

The RFP will be issued in late November with a closing date of late January 2003.

"We're looking at roll out from May onwards, with access to broadband services for all schools in place by the end of 2004," Mr van Horik said.

"It's a very exciting project that will ensure the infrastructure is in place throughout New Zealand to support the development of a wide range of broadband applications. 

"Broadband will enable schools to videoconference, opening up new learning opportunities that will be especially valuable to small remote schools in the regions.  It's the means by which kids in Wairoa will have access to the same information and online opportunities as kids in Wellington or New York.

"It will also enable businesses in the regions to access quality information about markets and competitors and open up new opportunities around the world. The potential is huge and we're excited by the plans we're hearing people come up with around the country."

November 2002