Fibre network passes 26,000km mark

Fibre network passes 26,000km mark

The amount of fibre optic cable in the wider Telecom network has passed the 26,000km mark, with the amount of new fibre being laid eclipsing traditional copper cabling for the first time.

Chorus, Telecom’s network arm, is continuing to make a massive investment in deploying fibre throughout the country and expects to add more than 2,000km of new fibre this financial year.

Chorus Head of Field Services Ed Beattie says the investment programme reflects an ongoing shift to a fibre-focused network.

“We’ve been integrating fibre optic cable into the network since 1983, but last year marked the first time that we laid more fibre than copper cabling.

“It’s a clear sign of the rapid transition that’s occurring in telecommunications technology and we expect to cover the length of the country again this year with the amount of fibre we’re laying,” he said.

The investment programme includes about 50 major projects to link more towns around the country with about 400km of fibre, as well as continuing to enhance fibre connectivity in about 20 central business districts.

A further 860km of fibre is to enhance suburban broadband capability through the deployment of fibre-fed broadband cabinets. The greater transmission capacity provided by fibre-fed cabinets will support high speed data technology such as VDSL, enabling broadband speeds of up to 50Mbps.

The number of residential subdivision lots connected by fibre is also expected to grow from 2,500 to more than 8,000, adding a further 400km of fibre to the network. Chorus’ policy is to connect fibre to the home in new subdivisions with more than 50 lots.

Chorus is also laying hundreds of kilometres of fibre to cellphone and other critical infrastructure sites.

ENDS

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