Nelson Marlborough Inforegion

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Nelson Marlborough Inforegion

The Nelson Marlborough Inforegion (NMi) was a joint venture between the Nelson Regional EDA and the Marlborough Regional Development Trust.

The core focus of this joint venture was to bring together key top of the south information and communication technology (ICT) initiatives for the benefit of all three regions, Nelson/Tasman and Marlborough.

Infrastructure providers Network Tasman Limited have rolled out the fibre optic cable network across Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough.   The Pacific.net delivered Project Probe to the outlying areas of the three regions with a wireless solution, and we then brought together key service providers to use the networks.

An important first step was the development of an ICT Strategy, including an ICT Atlas, for the top of the south.    While this strategy was being developed NMi worked with The LOOP (a project providing broadband based resources for schools), the three local authorities who are building a metropolitan network that will house various layers of regional information and Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) who have campuses in all three regions.
 

Broadband Challenge Project

The Nelson Regional EDA entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Economic Development (MED) to project manage an extension of the existing fibre network to more effectively link the major population centres in the Te Tau Ihu region and extend the existing network within these population centres.
 
The project was broken into two task components, Principle and Secondary Tasks. The MED stated that on the basis principle tasks were achieved efficiently and to the satisfaction of the MED, any excess funding will be applied to secondary tasks.
 
The EDA has met its Broadband Challenge project obligations with the MED in terms of commissioning an internet exchange and extending Network Tasman Limited’s fibre network.   Effective and efficient project management has seen the completion of the secondary tasks.   Although the project has been completed, the EDA continues to work with regional stakeholders to improve connectivity.