Office staff are in talks with a South Dunedin school to use its new fibre broadband cable - and the dramatically improved internet speeds it brought - as part of a 12-month trial providing free community wireless (Wi-Fi) internet access.
The trial would result in the school's fibre connection, already installed by Chorus, being made available for use outside school hours by nearby residents.
Access would be free, as would computers supplied to families participating in the trial by the Dunedin Computers in Homes programme, also part of the Dunedin City Council-funded Digital Office.
The details were confirmed by deputy mayor Chris Staynes, who is chairman of the Digital Community Trust, which runs the Digital Office.
Cr Staynes would not reveal the name of the school, but said the trial, if successful, could provide a cheaper alternative to families unable to afford the cost of ultrafast broadband.
The $1.5 billion UFB network being rolled out nationally, and in Dunedin by Chorus, was expected to result in customers paying providers higher monthly fees that covered both the cost of their internet use and the cost of new fibre from streets to their homes.
Chorus was installing fibre under streets, but a component of the bills would cover the cost of connections from streets to homes, Digital Office project manager Stuart Dillon-Roberts said.
Cr Staynes said that meant some homeowners, as well as schools and businesses, would not be able to afford the new service, as was already the case with traditional broadband.
"I think you'll find there's a barrier to lower socio-economic groups ... A lot of the homes [in some areas] don't have an active phone line because they can't afford an active phone line.
"If they don't have a telephone line, they're not going to pay for a fibre to be put in."
Mr Dillon-Roberts hoped the trial would begin next month, and that at least 20 homes in the area would take part, although the network would not be open-access like the Octagon Wi-Fi network was.
The trial was expected to cost up to $30,000. InternetNZ had contributed $12,500 and other Dunedin businesses were offering time and equipment, he said.
Cr Staynes said the trial, if successful, could lead to a similar service being made available elsewhere in Dunedin.
