RAW DATA: TrueNet February 2016 Broadband Report - Rural broadband improvements continue

(TrueNet is contracted to the Commerce Commission to monitor broadband performance. It uses a network of probes attached to 400 volunteers' internet connections to rate ISPs — Editor.)

The continuing development of internet connections in the latest quarter has seen consistent improvements in performance.  The Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) is growing by about 7% per quarter, these improvements are from wireless connections over Vodafone's 4G mobile links or Chorus' fibre to rural cabinets.  

This quarter, Wireless RBI performance has reduced in the evening busy hour, but with higher speeds, this may not be noticeable.

Live Webpage Performance

The government funded RBI scheme is working.  TrueNet is measuring both RBI funded connections and those where no funding has been allocated.  The difference is so big our chart scales do not allow much comparison between the funded and non-funded rural locations of VDSL, Wireless and ADSL.  Those without RBI funding are now likely to find that websites take over three times longer to download than those where an update has occurred.

Upgraded Rural services (VDSL, Wireless and ADSL) show either similar or better results than Urban ADSL.   For non-upgraded Rural ADSL, both the average time to download a webpage, and spread of webpage download times throughout the day are far greater than the other technologies, this is common with web browsing results from NZ, Australia, and the USA.

The Rural Broadband Initiative is improving connection performances for some connections, there was an increase of funded connections of 7% for wireless and 5% for ADSL in the December quarter,  leaving the performance of the remaining rural connections worse.

Note that VDSL can only be offered close to the exchange equipment located in a cabinet or exchange, otherwise any connection over copper in the rural network will be ADSL.

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Rural File Download Speed

The average rural file download speed for each technology is given in Chart 2. The performance of RBI-funded VDSL and Wireless in webpage download results is reinforced by these file download results. Where users have a good line and access to the new VDSL band-plan, then very fast service speeds can be achieved.   Unfortunately consumers cannot choose their copper connection - it is down to the luck of proximity to RBI-funded cabinets, and quality of the attached copper lines.

Wireless connections are delivering better speeds than urban ADSL, with much faster upload speeds.  ADSL speeds expected at your address are now available here

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Time of Day Performance in Rural

Performance during the busier daylight period of RBI funded ADSL and VDSL improved, while Rural ADSL is similar to last quarter.  However Wireless RBI struggled at 9pm in particular, falling to under 75% of peak early morning speeds. 

While the connection technology of RBI Wireless is provided by Vodafone, the complete internet service over wireless is sold through many ISPs, our panelists are from 4 different ISPs.  The cause or location of the performance reduction evident here is unknown at present, we would need more panelists.

Chart 3: Time of Day Performance of Rural Technologies v Urban ADSL

(Click to zoom)

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