Small Western Bay of Plenty Island Gets Big Internet Advantage
Friday 29 July 2011, 8:41AM
By Enternet Online Ltd
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Motiti Island residents are making history as the first off-shore community in New Zealand to receive super high-speed internet access.
Leading internet service provider EOL has sourced specialist radio equipment from Europe to expand its Western Bay of Plenty wireless network to include Motiti Island, 21km north east of Tauranga.
EOL’s managing director, Terry Coles, says the island’s 30-odd residents are now able to use a high-speed 50Mbps internet link, which can also be used to make phone calls.
“We have installed sufficient capacity for the whole community, at a speed that most mainland New Zealanders would be envious of,” Coles says. “Island residents made a special request for such a service and we were more than happy to oblige.”
EOL had to order special radio equipment from Europe for the job as most wireless equipment will not work over water at such a distance.
“It has taken several weeks of installing and testing the repeater equipment on the mainland site in the Papamoa Hills, and yesterday we flew an engineer to the island to install the radio hardware at that end.”
The internet link was switched on at 11am yesterday morning and Coles says tests “exceeded our expectations”.
“It has been a challenge but EOL is committed to providing all Western Bay of Plenty residents with the fastest possible internet access at an affordable price.”
EOL are leaders in wireless broadband technology and is one of New Zealand’s only independently-owned wireless internet companies. The Tauranga-based company was last year named one of New Zealand’s top Internet Service Providers (ISPs) by Consumer Magazine for the second year running.
What sets EOL apart from other ISPs is the fact that it owns and has complete control over its own network, enabling it to provide a superior level of service, speed and reliability.
Last year the company launched its VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) phone service which does away with traditional phone lines, instead transmitting voice data over EOL’s wireless network for a fraction of the cost.
“It’s very satisfying to know we can provide all the latest technology and innovative products to everyone in our region – even if they are 21km out to sea,” Coles says.