Wireless carriers push back on fibre-first rural broadband

Sector-backed report calls for technology-neutral approach to rural fundingA report commissioned by the mobile carriers and their tower partners challenges the idea that fibre should be the first choice for rural connectivity.Connecting Rural New Zealand was written by UK-based Flint Global. It was commissioned by Spark, One NZ, 2degrees, Fortysouth and Connexa, in effect the entire mobile sector. These companies also sell fixed wireless broadband.The mobile sector wants any initiative to improve rural broadband to be based on outcomes, not the delivery technology or, in their words: “not infrastructure ideology”.They say rural users care more about what they get than how they get it.Public fundingThe report also makes a case for any public money spent on rural broadband to be used to target genuine coverage gaps. It wants to see competitive funding and, while it acknowledges there is a role for fibre, it says the government should “avoid subsidising fibre where wireless or satellite…