There are three main IT/infrastructure provisos in this year's budget, announced last night.
1. $942 million to Crown Fibre Holdings for UFB
2. $51.5 million over four years to bring UFB to schools
3. $27.6 million for improved Government online services
The funding to CFH is to be invested in providing fibre-to-the-premises networks at ultra-fast speeds, said Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce. The funding supports the Government's aim for 75 percent of Kiwis to have access to UFB by 2019. (Update: Joyce estimates 'zero' taxpayer cost in regulatory holiday reversal.)
The School Network Upgrade Project will see $51.5 million over four years to build the infrastructure to support UFB in schools.
Internal Affairs Minister Nathan Guy said the budget's $27.6 million allocation for 'igovt' services will help deliver online public services more efficiently with a single log-on system across government services.
"This is the way of the future. It has the potential to deliver quicker and easier services for the public, while saving taxpayer money,” Mr Guy said.
A full list of participating agencies and services is available here.
