UPDATED Feb 14, 2012: Vodafone has named the first three remote rural communities to gain a cellsite under its community co-funding programme.

One is a group of residents in Waihau Bay in the East Cape in the North Island. The other two successful applicants are in the North and South Catlins in the South Island.

Site survey work will begin immediately.

Vodafone made its scheme open to remote rural communities not covered by the $300 million Rural Broadband Initiative now underway.

Under the programme, Vodafone will pay for a celltower if residents can organise land for the cellsite, RMA consents, and the support of local iwi, among other criteria. Vodafone then runs the cellsite on a commercial basis.

Local business owner Derek Aubertin co-ordinated the application for Waihau Bay. 

Vodafone’s chief network officer Tony Baird said his company had planned to award two cellsites a year under the community scheme (applications closed on December 15).

However, response had been so strong that the carrier decided to allocate three cellsites in the scheme's first round. A second round of applications will be opened later this year.

Mr Baird came to Vodafone from Farmside, which offers satellite broadband to rural communities, among other services. Satellite connection has been previously raised by Vodafone as a possibility for connecting remote rural sites to its main network.

Today, Vodafone spokeswoman said plans were still being finalised: "There is still feasibility work to be done although we are looking into satellite backhaul for a couple of of the sites."

And, it seems, pricey satellite backhaul would not mean more expensive mobile costs for anyone in the three rural communities. "It's a mobile service so normal costs apply for customers," the spokeswoman said.

Vodafone community cellsite scheme

Vodafone will provide a small or remote community with a cellsite if you it meets the following criteria (and beats other communities vying for Vodafone's attention; the carrier has promised at least two sites a year under the scheme):

• A willing land owner
• Proximity to existing mains power supply
• Letter of support from local MP(s)
• Supporting petition of signed residents who desire the service and their assistance to obtain RMA consent
• The location must be able to provide line of site options for microwave linking (Vodafone will need to determine this)
• Community willing to provide track maintenance
• 4WD vehicle access
• Support of local iwi including contact person name and number
• Support of local Council or Community Board member/s
• Description of the positive impact the site will bring to the community

More details are on Vodafone's Community cell site request scheme page.

You supply the land, we'll bring the cell tower - Vodafone

Oct 20, 2011: The government's $300 million, six-year Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) - which Telecom and Vodafone won with a joint bid - will bring 5Mbit/s+ internet to 80% of rural businesses, 86% of rural homes and 93% of rural schools (see Vodafone's RBI coverage map here).

Around 300 far-flung schools and medical centres not covered by the RBI will gain coverage under a sub-tender.

For those that fall outside the RBI, and small communities, Vodafone has a creative solution.

Chief technology officer Sandra Pickering said her company was willing to partner with local communities to fund cellsites in remote areas.

One potential model: the local community supplies the land, and organises the consents (both always tricky propositions for a telco and a "major expense" according to Vodafone NZ chief executive Russell Stanners), while Vodafone pays for the cell tower. Ms Pickering said her company was open to ideas about how just joint arrangements could work.

Mr Stanners said Vodafone would also supply the backhaul (connection to its main network), which could be fibre, or a satellite connection. The satellite connection could be through Vodafone's partner Farmside. But Mr Stanners noted there was more than one satellite provider.

After installation, the cellsite would be operated on a normal commercial basis by Vodafone.

Vodafone’s head of community and government relations Roger Ellis, said communities will be invited to apply during a two month period each year. Following a consultation and liaison process, it is planned that a minimum of two sites will be built each year. 

The cell sites will use the 900MHz frequency which provides the broadest reach coverage from one cell site.

Communities with no existing mobile coverage who wish to benefit from this initiative must be able to meet certain criteria. The criteria include a letter of support from local MP(s), a supporting petition signed by residents, a willing land owner and support for an RMA consent - possibly a challenging proposition for community amateurs (as is another criteria - iwi consent).

Applications opened on 15 October and will close on 15 December 2011. A selection will be made by early January and the resulting cell sites will be planned within the following 12 months, Mr Ellis said.

Decisions will be based on Vodafone’s assessment of the sites positive impact on the local community, and the community’s ability to meet the required criteria. All applications will be considered by Vodafone’s Community Cell Site project team. 

More information is on Vodafone's community cellsite request scheme page.