The Remote Users Scheme, a new government-led initiative, aims to equip as many rural and remote New Zealanders as possible with the connectivity infrastructure needed to access broadband services where they live. It takes an innovative approach to improving rural and remote connectivity.
The Scheme aims to reach New Zealanders living in rural and remote parts of the country who cannot currently connect to the internet through commercial suppliers, and have either very slow current broadband download speeds, or only have access to voice and text services.
The Scheme also provides an opportunity to inform and educate these communities about a wider range of internet connectivity technologies available which they could benefit from.
The Remote Users Scheme will benefit households and communities in the most remote parts of New Zealand, who cannot receive broadband from commercial suppliers, and have either very slow current broadband download speeds, or only have access to voice and text services.
To be in scope for the Scheme, the household must not already be covered by an existing government connectivity programme.
There are a number of eligibility requirements for this Scheme. Those who can benefit will reside in the most remote parts of New Zealand where they cannot receive broadband from commercial suppliers, and have either very slow current broadband download speeds, or only have access to voice and text services.
To be eligible, the household must be a person’s principal residence – where they usually reside. Holiday homes are not eligible.
The home must also not be in an area where there is existing or planned connectivity improvement, either by a commercial telecommunications provider, or under another government connectivity improvement programme, such as the Rural Broadband Initiative.
A principal residence is essentially where someone lives as their normal place of residence. It can be defined as any one of the following:
- Owner-occupied houses
- Houses containing multiple families or households
- Houses or other dwellings that are rented to live in
- Multiple houses or dwellings on a single plot, section or parcel of land (such as houses rented by farm station workers under a ‘right to reside or ‘license to occupy arrangement).
No. Only buildings permanently fixed to the land in the form of houses or dwellings qualify as a principal residence under the Scheme.
Properties such as holiday homes, or any temporary relocatable building, caravan, tent, boat or vehicle that can move in and out of areas with broadband coverage are not eligible for connectivity support through the Remote Users Scheme.
In the first instance, clusters of eligible remote users will be matched with internet service providers to provide broadband connectivity.
Where eligible remote users cannot be matched with providers, they may be eligible for a one-off grant of up to $2,000 to be used towards the cost of buying, installing and setting up connectivity hardware of their choice. This could be satellite or radio-communication connectivity equipment that’s appropriate to their location and situation. No ongoing or monthly costs will be provided.
The main aim of the Remote Users Scheme is to enable remote households and communities to access broadband internet.
If an eligible user is provided connectivity by a service provider that also provides mobile phone services, it is possible, but not guaranteed, that they may receive new or better mobile phone coverage.
If a mobile phone service is not available, eligible users may be able to use the internet for voice calling, over ‘Voice over Internet Protocol’ (VoIP). VoIP uses a digital signal which is transmitted over the internet to make voice calls. The user would need to investigate this with their internet service provider for more information.
As part of this Scheme, Crown Infrastructure Partners will contact eligible remote users who cannot be matched with a service provider to offer suitable ground-based broadband connectivity. A one-off grant of up to $2,000 may be provided to be used towards the cost of buying, installing and setting up connectivity hardware of the user’s choice, such as satellite or radio-communication connectivity appropriate to their location and situation.
As part of this Scheme, Crown Infrastructure Partners will contact eligible remote users who cannot be matched with a service provider to offer suitable ground-based broadband connectivity. A one-off grant of up to $2,000 may be provided to be used towards the cost of buying, installing and setting up connectivity hardware of the user’s choice, such as satellite or radio-communication connectivity appropriate to their location and situation.
MBIE found up to $2,000 to be suitable for purchasing a range of basic off-the-shelf radio equipment, or to purchase and install satellite connectivity hardware.
No. The main aim of the Remote Users Scheme is to provide connectivity infrastructure to enable remote households and communities to access broadband internet.
Once the infrastructure is in place, the users will need to make their own internet service arrangements with their chosen supplier.
Support for digital inclusion, such as affordability of ongoing broadband costs for people on lower incomes, is being considered as part of other, broader, government programmes.
Network connectivity is the first step to addressing digital inclusion.
Crown Infrastructure Partners (CIP) will administer the Remote Users Scheme and will soon be calling for applications from potentially eligible households and communities. A Request For Proposals from internet service providers will follow.
This is part of a three-phase approach planned by CIP:
- calling for applications from potentially eligible remote users,
- requesting proposals from service providers for the supply of infrastructure,
- overseeing the build of ground-based infrastructure and allocating grants to users unable to be reached by the new infrastructure.
CIP will work with key rural stakeholders to help promote the Scheme in local communities.
It is expected that new broadband connectivity infrastructure for the eligible areas and households can begin being built from mid-2023.
Information about the Remote Users Scheme is available on the Crown Infrastructure Partner’s website: www.crowninfrastructure.govt.nz/ruralbroadband/RUS
I encourage people to initially check the status of broadband in their area on the national broadband map to see what connectivity options are currently available. CIP will also confirm this information during the application process.
Proof of address, permanent residence, and a declaration of the broadband service available in your area may be required to assist in assessing eligibility.
Crown Infrastructure Partners (CIP) will administer the Remote Users Scheme and will soon be calling for applications from potentially eligible households and communities. A Request For Proposal from internet service providers will follow. It is expected that new broadband connectivity infrastructure for the eligible areas and households can begin being built from mid-2023.
The Government is committed to enhancing the digital lives of all our communities.
Existing government programmes have been successful at connecting many New Zealanders to fibre broadband or wireless broadband.
As these programmes near completion, it has become evident that a different approach needs to be taken to meet the needs of our most remote households.
Through Budget 2022, $15 million was allocated towards funding the Remote Users Scheme, as part of the broader $60 million rural connectivity package announced earlier in 2022.
The Remote Users Scheme takes an approach to improving connectivity that has not been used in New Zealand before. The effectiveness, uptake and any need for an expansion of the scheme will be assessed as the scheme is rolled out.
The speeds remote users can expect will depend on the technology available to them and other factors such as distance, terrain, and how many others are using the same infrastructure or connection.
For example, remote users who are currently supplied with 4G coverage may find they could get download speeds of up to 100 MBps, however their actual speeds can vary significantly depending on the above circumstances.
The average 4G speed across New Zealand is between 34 and 42 MBps according to independent analyst OpenSignal.
At least one satellite service provider advertises satellite download speeds of 100 MBps.
Speeds of 25 to 50 MBps are suitable for people using two or three internet devices in a household to make reliable video calls, stream in HD, some online gaming activities, and working from home.
The government’s Rural Broadband Phase 2 initiative, which is due to conclude in the coming months, is getting close to delivering on its target of improved broadband connectivity to 84,000 rural households and businesses.
In February 2022, the Rural Capacity Upgrade (RCU) programme concluded after upgrading 70 mobile towers in rural areas.
February 2022 also saw the government announce the commencement of $47 million in rural capacity upgrades to improve the performance of wireless services for up to 47,000 rural homes and businesses. In June 2022, the Rural Capacity Upgrade work was expanded by a further $43 million to benefit an additional 26,000 to 29,000 rural homes and businesses.
In October 2022, the government announced it was working with New Zealand’s major telecommunications network operators to accelerate the roll-out of 5G services to small rural towns across New Zealand and further invest into rural connectivity improvements.
Within the last 12 months the government has completed the upgrade of telecommunications on the Chatham Islands and completed a fibre connection to the West Coast (including the fibre link between Fox Glacier Township and Lake Hawea).
Some of the housing at or near a marae, for example papakāinga, may be eligible if they meet the Scheme’s criteria, including the definition of a principal residence. However, some marae may find it more valuable to apply to the existing Marae Digital Connectivity programme. Information on this programme can be found here on the Te Puni Kōkiri website.