How Lightwire's fixed wireless broadband works
A Lightwire technician installs a dish on the roof of your house that’s capable of receiving signals from a Lightwire tower site on a nearby hill. With a clear Line of Sight (LoS) between the site and your dish, the tower beams radio signals over which data is carried.
There are 200+ Wireless Broadband radio towers across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty spanning from the Bombay Hills to Te Kuiti to Whakatane beaming fast internet down to NZ rural properties.
99.99%
Average Tower Uptime
(last 30 days – all towers)
Closing the connectivity gap.
An avid computer enthusiast, Murray Pearson (PhD), wanted faster internet at his home in rural Waikato, but was frustrated to find that no options were available. He teamed up with the University of Waikato to find a way to close the connectivity gap between rural and city internet, Lightwire was born.
15 years later, Lightwire has gone from a research project to New Zealand’s largest independent wireless internet service provider, and our mission to close the connectivity gap has never faulted.
Speed, reliability, and service are our ingredients for very happy customers.
Investing in here
At Lightwire we live and work across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. We’re in this together.
That’s why we heavily invest in our network so we can all enjoy rural living at city internet speeds.
Because rural living in NZ shouldn’t be about compromises.
$15 Million
In network investments over the last 5 years
65 Sites Upgraded
In 2023
8500+ Customers
in 2024
Where you can get high-speed wireless broadband IN NEW ZEALAND
Availability depending on range and line of sight to a Lightwire tower as well as tower capacity.
Aongatete | Douglas Corner |
Arapuni | Dunmore |
Arohena | Elstow |
Awaiti | Eureka |
Awakaponga | Fencourt |
Awakeri | French Pass |
Awakeri Springs | Glen Murray |
Awatane | Golden Valley |
Barryville | Gordon |
Churchill | Gordonton |
Hairini | Hoe-O-Tainui |
Hangatiki | Hopuhopu |
Harapepe | Horahia |
Haroto Bay | Horahora |
Harrisville | Horotiu |
Hautapu | Horsham Downs |
Helvetia | Hungahunga |
Hikutaia | Island Block |
Hinuera | Island View |
Hodderville |
Kaawa | Mangaorongo |
Kaharoa | Mangapiko |
Kaiaua | Mangapiko Valley |
Kainui | Mangatangi |
Kaipaki | Mangatarata |
Kairangi | Mangatāwhiri |
Karakariki | Mangateparu |
Karamu | Mangati |
Karapiro | Mangatoi |
Kauaeranga | Mangatutu |
Kauri Flat | Mangawara |
Kellyville | Mangawhero |
Kereone | Maniatutu |
Kerepehi | Manoeka |
Kimihia | Maraeroa |
Kinleith | Maramarua |
Kiokio | Matahuru |
Kiwitahi | Matai |
Komakorau | Matatoki |
Komata | Matira |
Komata North | Maungatautari |
Kopu | Mercer |
Kopuarahi | Meremere |
Kopuku | Minden |
Korakonui | Moerangi |
Koromatua | Mokai |
Kuranui | Monavale |
Lichfield | Mystery Creek |
Limestone Downs | Ngahape |
Little Waihi | Ngāhinapōuri |
Mahuta | Ngaroma |
Makaka | Ngaroto |
Makomako | Ngarua |
Manawaru | Ngawaro |
Mangaiti | Ngutunui |
Mangakino |
Ōhaupō | Puahue |
Ohinewai | Pukeatua |
Okaeria | Pukehina |
Okauia | Pukekapia |
Okauia Pa | Pukekawa |
Okete | Pukekura |
Okoroire | Pukerimu |
Omahu | Pukeroro |
Omanawa | Puketaha |
Omanawa Falls | Puketotara |
Onepu | Puketurua |
Onewhero | Pūkorokoro/Miranda |
Oparure | Pūkorokoro/Miranda Hot Springs |
Opuatia | Puni |
Orakau | Pureora |
Orini | Puriri |
Orongo | Pururu |
Oropi | Pyes Pa |
Orton | Rahanui |
Otewa | Rakaumanga |
Otway | Rangiaowhia |
Owairaka Valley | Rangiriri |
Paengaroa | Rangiriri West |
Paepaerahi | Rangitaiki |
Paewhenua | Rangiuru |
Panetapu | Renown |
Parawera | Rewarewa |
Paterangi | Richmond Downs |
Patetonga | Rotokauri |
Pepepe | Rotongaro |
Peria | Rotongata |
Piarere | Rotoorangi |
Pinedale | Rotowaro |
Pipiroa | Ruakiwi |
Pokuru | Ruawaro |
Pongakawa | Rukuhia |
Scotsman Valley | Te Miro |
Selwyn | Te Moananui |
Shaftesbury | Te Ohaki Pa |
Springdale | Te Pahu |
Tahawai | Te Poi |
Tahuna | Te Puninga |
Tahuroa | Te Rahu |
Taihoa | Te Ranga |
Tamihana | Te Ranga |
Taniwha | Te Rauamoa |
Taotaoroa | Te Raumauku |
Tapapa | Te Rore |
Tatuanui | Te Tahi |
Tauhei | Te Teko |
Taupiri | Te Tumu |
Te Ākau | Te Uku |
Te Ākau South | Te Uku Landing |
Te Aroha West | Thornton |
Te Hoe | Tihiroa |
Te Kauri | Tikotiko |
Te Kawa | Tirohia |
Te Kawa West | Tokanui |
Te Kohanga | Torehape |
Te Kopua | Totara |
Te Kowhai | Tuakau |
Te Kumi | Tuhikaramea |
Te Matai | Turangaomoana |
Te Mawhai | Turua |
Waerenga | Waiti |
Waharoa | Waitoa |
Waiari | Walton |
Waihi Beach | Waotu |
Waihou | Wardville |
Waikaretu | Westmere |
Waikeria | Whakamaru |
Waikino | Whakatīwai |
Waikokowai | Whangamarino |
Waikorea | Whangarata |
Waimahora | Wharekawa |
Waimata | Wharepapa South |
Waiorongomai | Wharepoa |
Wairakau | Wharepūhunga |
Wairamarama | Whatawhata |
Waitakaruru | Whitehall |
Waitawheta | Whitikahu |
Waiterimu | Wiltsdown |
Waitetuna | Woodleigh |

Lightwire is widely available across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Click the link below to check if we can provide fast and reliable wireless broadband to your rural property.

Not in coverage?
If you have a great community champion that can get 10 or more customers to commit to one of our wireless broadband plans, we will deploy a tower free of charge.
a network for more than just broadband
With over 200 high sites across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, NZ, Lightwire is uniquely positioned to help other businesses unlock their connectivity potential.
Projects include Hamilton City Council’s smart traffic network, Trilogy’s digital mobile radio, and Waikato Regional Council’s IoT Initiatives.