Businesses throughout New Zealand are already benefiting from the rollout of the government's Ultra-Fast Broadband project, which is now more than a quarter complete.
Communications and information technology minister Amy Adams explained how over the final quarter of last year, an additional 40,630 end users were able to access the service.
This brought the number of users to 363,109, which means that 27 per cent of the project has now been completed.
The scheme has the potential to bring a host of benefits to homes and companies throughout New Zealand and may even enhance the use of small business software.
This includes buildings located in more remote parts of the country, which are covered by the Rural Broadband Initiative.
As a result of the scheme, more than 179,000 rural homes and businesses now have access to fast wireless broadband, while an additional 60,000 can use copper broadband services.
The Ultra-Fast Broadband network is expected to eventually reach 75 per cent of homes and businesses throughout New Zealand, with a completion date of 2019 currently on the cards.
It is estimated that schools, hospitals and 90 per cent of businesses in the coverage area will be connected by the end of 2015, with the remaining 10 per cent rolled out over the successive four years.
As for the Rural Broadband Initiative, 252,000 customers are expected to benefit, bringing high-speed services to 86 per cent of rural homes and businesses.
It is expected they will be able to achieve speeds of at least 5Mbps through both fixed wireless and improved copper services - a significant improvement on what is currently available.
When the two programs are combined, 97.8 per cent of New Zealanders will be able to access better and faster broadband, bringing various advantages in the process.