Many communities across Aotearoa face significant challenges in accessing reliable internet, particularly in areas where traditional broadband options can be expensive or unavailable. WiFiConnect began with a mission to provide affordable broadband services to rural New Zealand.

Our journey began in Tolaga Bay, on the North Island's East Coast, where we partnered with Tolaga Bay Area School to use their Ultra Fast Fibre connection, bringing rural wireless internet to the community.

In the mid-2010s we expanded our services to the Eastern Bay of Plenty, with a major growth spurt starting in 2018, through funding from the Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI2).

In 2017 we extended our network to the West Coast of the South Island, working with WestREAP, Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae to connect households from Hokitika to Bruce Bay, bringing broadband to these remote areas.

In late 2022 we took a significant step by offering fibre broadband through the Chorus network. This allowed us to expand our coverage to urban areas, furthering our commitment to providing reliable, affordable internet services to communities across the country.

Our directors bring over a decade of experience in providing low-cost internet to remote areas through their individual work with Wairoa Wireless and TokoNet.

Leon has a strong technical background, particularly in networking and broadband solutions, which has been key in building and expanding network infrastructure in the areas we now serve.

Ivan, with his business acumen and community networking expertise, has played a pivotal role in forging partnerships, securing resources, and championing affordable connectivity solutions.

Both Ivan and Leon live rurally, giving them a deep understanding of the challenges faced by remote communities. Together, they have focused on extending affordable connectivity to more communities, leaving a lasting impact on the digital divide in Aotearoa.