Northpower Fibre UFB connections hit 50%

Northpower Fibre has passed the halfway mark in its Whangarei UFB network with over 11,500 people connected to the network out of a possible 22,700 premises.

Chief Executive Darren Mason says while the 50% milestone is pleasing for the company, what really matters is that Whangarei has one of the highest uptake rates of any UFB network in New Zealand.

“This is outstanding for the city in terms of advancement for the region both economically and socially. The team remains firmly focussed on connecting as many of the remaining premises as possible.

“The Northpower Fibre network provides reliable, fast world class broadband and those people connected to it recognise what a game changer it is – as Northlanders we are really proud of that,” says Mr Mason.

“We have seen the benefits it has brought amongst local businesses and in the work we do with the Tai Tokerau Education Trust. The learning outcomes from the work the Trust is doing in Whangarei schools is creating life-changing educational outcomes for our students and our UFB network is providing the platform for that.”

Of the premises connected to Northpower Fibre’s Whangarei UFB network, 11% are businesses and 89% residential homes, and while there is a firm focus on connecting more premises in the city, the company is quickly expanding throughout Whangarei and Kaipara Districts.

UFB networks at Hikurangi and Waipu are now completed and hundreds of people are already connected, while One Tree Point residents also have access to the network.

Ruakaka and Dargaville residents will be able to hook up to Northpower Fibre over the next three months. Beyond that, Waikaraka, Mangawhai, Kaiwaka, Maungaturoto, Paparoa and Ruawai will be part of the Northpower Fibre expansion over the next few years.

By 2022, the network will reach a total of around 33,000 homes and premises across Kaipara and Whangarei.

“The Northpower Fibre network continues to drive innovation as we showed in 2017 when we were the first fibre network in the world to deliver a live NGPON2 (10 gigabits per second speeds) trial to both a Whangarei business and a Whangarei residential premises. We will continue to innovate to ensure we are offering some of the best fibre broadband in the world to our community.”

Mr Mason says people not currently connected to Northpower Fibre but who are within the build areas, should take the opportunity to first check if fibre is available at their address and then register their interest at northpowerfibre.co.nz. People who connect before 30 September go into the draw to win an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil valued at over $1500.

Most connections to the Northpower Fibre network are free so get connected now.

© Scoop Media