For some people, living in rural areas of New Zealand means being less connected to civilisation and the information superhighway.
But location will no longer be a barrier for three rural hospitals, four remote schools, 14 rural schools and 24 libraries in Otago, when they receive faster broadband speeds in the second and final phase of the Government's $300 million Rural Broadband Initiative.
They will be among 57 remote schools, 193 rural schools, 183 libraries and 37 rural hospitals to be connected during the next four years.
Maniototo Hospital (Ranfurly), Charlotte Jean Maternity Hospital (Alexandra) and Clutha Health First (Balclutha) will receive ultrafast broadband along with Maniototo Health Services Ltd (one of 10 rural health centres nationwide), aimed at benefiting patients and medical practitioners.
While the hospitals already have limited access to ultrafast broadband through the Southern District Health Board, Clutha Health First chief executive Ray Anton said having their own service would give his medical practitioners faster access to latest information, such as the world's leading research and specialists, without leaving their desk.
"We already have access to reading materials, but this will allow us to have access to video link-ups. It will allow my doctors to converse with specialists in New Zealand or overseas, face-to-face.
"That would be fantastic. If you could avoid having to put a patient in an ambulance and send them two hours to Dunedin Hospital, that would be a positive outcome for the patient. It would also save up to $500-$600."
Fast fibre links to hospitals nationwide would also allow his medical staff to connect to, and interact with, training sessions in Wellington or Auckland.
Public access to broadband will also receive a big boost.
Twenty-four rural public libraries in Otago will be among the 183 nationwide to receive ultrafast broadband, giving communities better and faster access to information, education and job-seeking tools.
While staff at many of the rural libraries welcomed the upgrade, they believed it would get little use because they charged the public to use their computers, which put many off.
The majority of New Zealand's rural schools now have ultrafast broadband, and Education Minister Hekia Parata said all remaining schools, including the most remote, would be connected by 2016.
Remote schools such as Tahakopa School (Owaka), Macraes Moonlight School (Palmerston), Paerau School (Ranfurly) and Makarora Primary School (Wanaka) would receive faster broadband using point-to-point wireless technology, and 14 rural schools would receive ultrafast broadband.
Ms Parata said improving broadband for remote schools would break down the barriers imposed by distance and isolation.
"Many of these schools have relied on using satellite broadband and have had to manage with small data caps and slow speeds, but this project will make a massive difference for students and teachers at these schools.
"The schools will now have access to the best online resources from anywhere in the world, and they will also be able to connect to the Network for Learning," she said.
Many of the communities surrounding the schools will also benefit, as the providers have agreed to make available wireless and fixed-line broadband services to many of the communities.
Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams said the improved broadband services would be "light years" ahead of where they were today. Rural communities were an integral part of the economy and the Government could not afford to let them fall behind, she said.
On the superhighway
Otago facilities to get faster broadband:
Libraries: Roxburgh, Maniototo, Cromwell, Alexandra, Omakau, Millers Flat, Clyde, Tapanui, Milton, Balclutha, Owaka, Lawrence, Waikouaiti, Outram, Blueskin Bay, Wanaka, Arrowtown, Kingston, Hawea, Palmerston, Otematata, Omarama, Kurow and Hampden.
Rural schools: Balclutha, Cromwell College, Cromwell Primary, Goldfields (Cromwell), Holy Family (Wanaka), Maniototo Area, Milton, Rosebank (Balclutha), Roxburgh Area, South Otago High, St Joseph's (Balclutha), St Mary's (Milton), Tokoiti and Tokomairiro High School.
Remote schools: Tahakopa, Macraes Moonlight, Paerau and Makarora.
Rural medical facilities: Charlotte Jean Maternity Hospital (Alexandra), Clutha First Health (Balclutha), Maniototo Hospital (Ranfurly) and Maniototo Health Services Ltd (Ranfurly).
