So to meet the increasing data demand by users in Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) areas Vodafone has doubled the monthly data allowance on its rural wireless broadband plans in preparation for what is calls a hyper-connected rural future.
From today, all new and existing customers on rural wireless broadband four plans will have an increase in their monthly data from 15GB to 30GB.
And it will introduce a faster 42Mbps (megabytes per second) high performance wireless broadband modem for new rural broadband customers this month. The new modem is capable of typical download speeds between 16-20Mbps via Vodafone’s dual carrier 3G network.
Vodafone consumer director Matt Williams said the changes allow its rural customers to access more of the online content and services they need.
“Customers have told us (of) the significant difference access to high-speed broadband makes to their everyday lives so the availability of the faster modem and increased data will be extremely beneficial.
“Basic online activities like web browsing, streaming content, and online shopping – things that are taken for granted in urban areas – are far more accessible.
“Independent speed tests completed in June 2014 by Epitiro show rural users are getting average speeds of 8Mbps with the current modem – greater than many people with ADSL connections in urban areas – so we’re confident the enhanced modem will be well received,” Williams said.
“Data usage by rural dwellers is increasing too – whether it’s the teenagers downloading their friends’ videos from Facebook, kids uploading homework to the cloud, or the farm manager uploading data to a farm management system – so we wanted to ensure customers can do more of what they want and need to do online, without worry.”
Waipukurau farmer Gus Smith said signing up to Vodafone’s wireless broadband brought his home into the 21st century.
“Before RBI, watching television on-demand was impossible – our connection was unreliable and streaming content chewed through our small monthly data cap which we needed for farming business.
“We just weren’t able to enjoy the internet like everyone else. Now we do.
“Wireless broadband can easily handle connecting multiple devices too, so when the grandkids come to stay at Christmas and want to connect and use their iPads and smartphones, just like they do at home, they can.”
Under the Government’s five-year RBI scheme Vodafone is funding the upgrade of 387 existing cell towers and building 154 new towers in rural areas.
Its network upgrades have already made wireless broadband available to more than 195,000 rural addresses, Williams said.
