Larissa Wiegman-Peeterse and Dennis Wiegman of Masterton-based Bluddy Brilliant advertising and design agency live within an area labelled the ‘stale donut’ where broadband connectivity close to urban centres is not up to scratch. When a good digital connection can mean the difference between a thriving business or bust, you don’t want to be in the middle of a ‘stale donut’. Young said his ‘stale donut’ analogy was metaphorical and did not mean that all areas near urban centres were poorly served. The second phase of the Rural Broadband Initiative was expected to be completed in 2023, which aims to provide “enhanced broadband” to around 99.8% of the population. Vodafone has the main contract to offer rural broadband (RBI1) across its mobile network, but smaller Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) are often available depending on individual circumstances.

Source: Stuff August 27, 2020 22:07 UTC