Kim Dotcom promises Kiwis free broadband

Kim Dotcom, the internet entrepreneur facing extradition to the USA for alleged piracy, has announced a plan to give all householders in his new home of New Zealand free broadband access, financed by suing Hollywood studios and the American government. The ambitious broadband plan was started by Trade Me founder Sam Morgan in 2010 and would have seen a 13,000 kilometre high-speed fibre-optic cable connecting New Zealand and Australia to California.

"You have clean and cheap energy here. Power is becoming the biggest cost factor for data centres around the world. With its own cable, cheap power and connectivity, New Zealand could attract foreign internet business. Unfortunately, the current government wants to invest into more tarmac roads. In 10 to 15 years most people will work and shop from home. You don't need tarmac, you need fibre," Dotcom said.

"One thing is clear after receiving over 1000 positive messages about Pacific Fibre today. NZ wants it. Let's do it," he tweeted. "I'll arrange a meeting with Pacific Fibre founders this week (if they have time) & explain my plan. Let's see what they think."

Broadband prices are high in New Zealand, largely because it lacks enough capacity on the submarine cables which connect it to the rest of the world. Dotcom's plan would be dependent on foreign companies storing and accessing data in New Zealand. Charging foreign users, businesses and government could make enough money to allow free access for local individuals, he says.

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