The Internet in New Zealand
New Zealand has a high rate of internet use, with nearly 75% of households having access to the Internet.
Internet cafes and other Internet services are also common, and wireless internet (WiFi) is available in the central business districts of Auckland and Wellington.
Wellington currently has several advantages in the internet space:
- above national average salaries, population and business density in the central city
- a dedicated fibre optic network in the CBD, laid on the city’s trolley bus lines
- free WiFi in most of the downtown area
- A vibrant digital technology community, underpinned by the world leading talents and requirements of Weta Digital
- Head office functions for most major banks, and government agencies, creating both demand and a pool of IT capability
- A stand-alone fibre optic network to several key suburbs – the first in New Zealand.
These are the factors that have on several occasions had Wellington rated as ‘the most connected city in the world’.
Elsewhere there is now connectivity, good in many places, and excellent in parts of Auckland and Christchurch. The development of DSL technology for copper phone lines has allowed acceptable speeds to be achieved in many part of the country, and effort to increase this coverage is ongoing.
There is also mobile data coverage provided by the mobile telecommunications companies Telecom, Vodafone and 2 Degrees, and a mobile radio data option available to businesses through Teamtalk.
Digital communications - particularly mobile - suit New Zealand well. There is no doubt the existing capability will continue to develop rapidly.
