Stuff Article: The 1 per cent who might never get internet

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michaelmurfy

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#239522 21-Jul-2018 22:38

This really grinds my gears...

https://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/105201375/disconnected-the-1-per-cent-who-might-never-get-internet

The town - Te Wharau is quite literally in the middle of nowhere and has a CMAR cabinet with approx. 9 lines connected. The whole article is made to appear this small town has more households by stating that "about 100 households rely on customer multi-access radio; an antique service to rural areas where conventional, physical lines are impractical to install." - I can count around 20 houses on the Chorus address list around here.

It goes on to state that Satellite is expensive which is true, but really, they've still got options so technically "they have internet but don't want to pay for it". It'll be utterly stupid for Chorus to install ADSL / VDSL around there when locations like Haast have more people (and get by with Satellite internet).

But Kudos to that local who did get an antenna built for mobile broadband access.

Remind me to never read Stuff...

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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quickymart

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#2060192 21-Jul-2018 22:46

I read that too. Haast has more people - if it's done by population, Haast should have VDSL (at minimum), but as you say, they make do with what they can get.
Don't move to the middle of nowhere if you want blistering fast internet...

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#2060199 21-Jul-2018 23:19

Looks there is some RBI2 wireless coming to that area 2020.

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quickymart

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#2060229 22-Jul-2018 08:20

Amazed by the number of people who say things like "I'm just out of the CBD of (wherever) and I can't get a thing! 10 minutes away!"...like that should count for something?

sbiddle

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#2060231 22-Jul-2018 08:25

There is no "1% of the population that can't get Internet", there is 1% of the population who refuse to pay the cost associated with delivering Internet to their rural location or for satellite access.

quickymart

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#2060233 22-Jul-2018 08:32

Are there any areas of the country that can't get satellite?

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#2060235 22-Jul-2018 08:36

They to choose to live in the middle of nowhere so zero sympathy

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#2060236 22-Jul-2018 08:38

quickymart:
Are there any areas of the country that can't get satellite?

Yes underground in a concrete bunker but then people will complain of no mobile coverage

John

quickymart

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#2060239 22-Jul-2018 08:41

No I meant (seriously) I knew a guy once who had difficulty even getting Sky, from memory something about having the western horizon blocked by something that interfered with his signal.

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#2060317 22-Jul-2018 09:55

Yep, if your directly behind a cliff maybe, but then that would put you in the 0.001% of those who don't want to spend the money running a cable X number of metres away from the cliff and maybe some solar power or something like that.
I recently did a couple of rural broadband installations where we ran 500m of cable up a hill through the bush. Installed a mast on top of the hill with antenna + 4G modem etc. Modem is remotely powered via the cable.
Total cost approx $3000. Customer was happy to pay.

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Scott3

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#2060327 22-Jul-2018 10:04

quickymart:

No I meant (seriously) I knew a guy once who had difficulty even getting Sky, from memory something about having the western horizon blocked by something that interfered with his signal.

Satellite coverage is nationwide. (including the Chatham Islands - although they seem to prefer the local WISP). That said, you do need a clear sight line to the satellites location in the sky. Our sky is feed off a neighbors dish (thanks guys) as a the time a large tree blocked the sight-line. If you live next to a cliff / mountain that could also pose issues.

A lot of these thing are easier in a rural environment as larger lot sizes give more flexibility of dish placement, and more control over vegetation. Plus ready access to farming type equipment that means erecting a pole, or trenching a cable isn't a big deal.