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. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Connectivity is top of mind for many South Island voters. &nbsp;
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.&nbsp;
And for the average person, mobile coverage and connectivity is a big issue – with dropouts and lacking 4G/5G coverage causing problems.&nbsp;
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. &nbsp;
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.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast

Paul Brislen: NZ Telecommunications Forum CEO on the call from rural New Zealand for better mobile coverage and connectivity

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/2d060a63-716b-4d45-9cf7-b466001a9d09/transcript