$1.8 million project to connect Akaroa

Telecom begins $1.8 million project to connect Akaroa

Chorus, Telecom's new network access business, has commenced work on a $1.8m project to lay about 35 kilometres of fibre optic cable from Little River to Akaroa.

The project is scheduled to be completed by April next year and is part of the 2,500 kilometres of fibre optic cable Chorus is deploying nationally to deliver fast broadband to towns with 500 phone lines or more by the end of 2011.

Chorus' GM Product Management, Chris Dyhrberg, says the Akaroa fibre project will provide the platform for increased telecommunications capacity into Akaroa.

"Akaroa is currently connected into the national telecommunications network via a high capacity radio link. The greater transmission capacity provided by the new fibre cable will support high speed data services, such as ADSL2+ broadband connectivity, for Akaroa.

The new fibre link builds on the 1,000 kilometres of Telecom fibre already within the Canterbury region.

Chorus is upgrading or installing about 3,600 cabinets and laying 2,500kms of fibre optic cable around New Zealand as part of Telecom's commitment to enable the delivery of broadband connections between 10Mbps and 20Mbps to 80 percent of New Zealanders by the end of 2011.

The Telecom Group's fibre optic network can be viewed online at www.broadbandmap.govt.nz
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