More than 250 schools, along with rural healthcare centres and libraries, are to benefit from a new round contracts the Government is issuing under its rural broadband initiative.
Telecom and Vodafone have already been jointly contracted to deliver high-speed internet to 95% of rural schools and 86% of rural households within six years.
Communications and Information Technology Minister Stephen Joyce says the Government is now calling tenders for further contracts that will cover schools and some other rural services not provided for in the initial ultra-fast broadband roll-out .
He says the new contracts cover connection for the remainder of zone 3 schools - 192 in total - and, because there is spare money in the budget, up to 82 libraries and all integrated health centres in rural areas will be connected.
Mr Joyce says consideration is now being given to the most remote schools, where fibre connections are extremely difficult, with discussions currently going on with wireless providers about the possibility of a fixed wireless connection - an approach that would also benefit people living around the schools.
The Telecommunications Users Association (TUANZ) says the new broadband contracts are a great step for rural schools in particular and it welcomes the inclusion of smaller health centres and more than 80 rural community libraries in the initiative.
The Government expects to have the new contracts signed by the end of the year.
Rural Women New Zealand has welcomed the extension of the rural broadband initiative but still has concerns about thousands who will still have to rely on more expensive satellite technology for their internet connections.
The organisation's executive officer, Noeline Holt, says the cost of satellite technology is a barrier to taking up the service.