Episode Details

Connectivity is top of mind for many South Island voters.  

South Island businesses are banding together to push their priorities onto the election agenda, using a major new conference to pressure political leaders on growth, infrastructure and workforce issues. 

And for the average person, mobile coverage and connectivity is a big issue – with dropouts and lacking 4G/5G coverage causing problems. 

NZ Telecommunications Forum CEO Paul Brislen told Kerre Woodham that telco companies are reliant on the government to co-fund towers, as there’s no commercial reason to put towers in places only a handful of people will use them every once in a while.  

He says it’s very much a joint venture, and he doesn’t recall anything in the Budget about more funding – but it’s an election year so that may change. 

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