Wi-fi tech boost for business, tourism
‘‘The free wi-fi was now available from the corner of Whitaker St and Lawrence Ave to the lower Domain.’’
A new business venture means people will be able to connect to free wi-fi in the main street of Te Aroha.
The Te Aroha Business Association and Wisper Communications joined forces to allow residents and visitors to access the free wi-fi service.
Association chairman Shaun O’Neill said the initiative was aimed at businesses but there would also be wi-fi services for farmers, home businesses, small office and home office users, and heavy users in the future.
O’Neill said the idea was to provide free access for ‘‘feet-inthe-street’’ users.
The second part of the plan was to establish Wisper Communications as an internet service provider for Te Aroha businesses.
Overall it would help business remain competitive while also helping with tourism.
The joint project was formed after realisation the national fibre roll-out might not arrive in Te Aroha for many years.
The current internet, communication services provided were also unreliable.
The free wi-fi was now available from the corner of Whitaker St and Lawrence Ave to the lower Domain.
To connect, people simply had to accept the terms of use by ticking a box, and begin surfing the internet for up to an hour at a time.
O’Neill said the free wi-fi also had a landing page, which listed all of the businesses in Te Aroha.
‘‘This will be improved over the next couple of months by providing direct links from the landing page that directs users to business’ websites, where people can make a booking, reservation, or enquiry.
‘‘This is a fantastic way to promote not only Te Aroha, but everything we have to offer on one page.’’
The free wi-fi network pro- vided access to about 1000 simultaneous users in the CBD.
The project was built on GeoMetrix’s fibre connection, which was installed last year as part of a joint venture with Diprose Miller.
To enable the free wi-fi project, the business association invested an additional $30,000 on the infrastructure required to provide the service to the town.
In return for using the business association’s infrastructure, Wisper Communications had been contracted to maintain the free wi-fi service.
O’Neill said Te Aroha now had the fasted internet technology available.
Wisper could also provide Voice over Internet Phone services, bringing real savings to businesses, increased performance and reliability.
To ensure the sustainability of the free wi-fi service, the business association encouraged the community to support Wisper Communications by becoming a customer.
‘‘Not only do you get fast, fibre speed internet, it ensures we can maintain the town’s free wi-fi,’’ O’Neill said.
Wisper offered plans from $65 per month including a phone line. It also offered web page building and web page hosting, allowing for even more savings, as well as timely, local customer service.