Election survey ranks broadband second most crucial infrastructure

Posted by R.J. Jacob ⋅ October 31, 2011 ⋅ Leave a Comment

New Zealand’s business community ranks broadband, or telecommunications in general, second behind physical transport as the infrastructure “having the most potential to contribute to New Zealand’s future economic prosperity”.

The question was asked as part of an election-year survey run jointly by consultancy Deloitte and BusinessNZ. More than 1000 New Zealand businesses were surveyed on factors likely to affect business, and also likely to figure in political parties’ election policies. The survey is conducted in each election year. The 2011 survey was presented at a conference in Wellington yesterday.

Asked to rank the importance of broadband, transport, energy (electricity and gas) and water to prosperity, from 1, (lowest) to 5 (highest), respondents gave “broadband/telecommunications” an average rating of 3.88. Transport ranked 3.94, with energy at 3.85 and water at 3.72.