Menu
Vodafone upgrades rural internet connections for Pāmu

Vodafone upgrades rural internet connections for Pāmu

Embarks on second largest connectivity project in the country, after the government’s Rural Broadband Initiative

Vodafone provides improved internet connectivity to over 300,000 hectares of farmland, allowing New Zealand’s largest pastoral farming company to run its business more efficiently.

The Rural Connect Project sees Vodafone successfully bringing fast and reliable internet to 125 Pāmu farms around New Zealand. It is the second largest connectivity project in the country, after the government’s Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI).

Pāmu is the brand name for Landcorp, a state-owned enterprise, and is New Zealand’s largest farming company.

It owns over 100,000 hectares of farmland throughout New Zealand and manages an additional 200,000 hectares. Many of these farms are in rural regions where many farmers had very poor internet connection.

The next phase of the partnership will see data collected from the rural farms to help predict trends for how farm businesses can perform better

“For years farmers have had issues with internet connectivity, this has made them reserved in using online tools aimed to help productivity, communication and health and safety on the farms,” says Rob Ford, Pāmu general manager for innovation, environment and technology. “But the benefits of the new connection to farms and employees are continuing to grow.”

The next phase of the Vodafone and Pāmu partnership will see data collected from the rural farms to help predict trends for how farm businesses can perform better across the board and develop with new technology.

Vodafone says it spent three years delving into the connectivity problems across all areas of Pāmu’s business, including regular farm visits and research interviews.

Alistair McDonnell,Vodafone public sector business development manager, says the improved internet connection helps farms work smarter not harder.

“Improving connectivity means employees can communicate with others in different parts of the country more regularly, with better quality and improved efficiency,” says McDonnell.

“We often take for granted the connectivity we have in our big cities but that’s not the reality for many farmers. Now Pāmu’s employees are able to work as if they’re in the CBD but from all over the country."

Join the CIO New Zealand group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.

Join the newsletter!

Or

Sign up to gain exclusive access to email subscriptions, event invitations, competitions, giveaways, and much more.

Membership is free, and your security and privacy remain protected. View our privacy policy before signing up.

Error: Please check your email address.

Tags internetVodafonedigital divideconnectivityRural Broadband InitiativePāmu

More about Vodafone

Show Comments