Northpower Fibre announces UFB build plan

Northpower Fibre announces UFB build plan

Northpower Fibre’s Ultra-Fast Broadband network is ahead of schedule, with fibre now passing more than 3700 Whangarei premises after just a matter of months.

And Northpower Fibre Chairperson Jo Brosnahan says the build team will have reached 7300 premises by June 2012, by which time connections from fibre to premises will have begun in earnest.

Technicians have constructed dozens of kilometres of aerial fibre and underground ducting, since the first deployment to Manaia View School in December 2010, and despite only ramping up to the full scale network build in April.

“Our aim has always been to complete a substantial number of premises passed before we embark on a concerted connection effort in conjunction with the retail services providers contracted to operate on our network,” says Mrs Brosnahan.

“This venture is an important partnership between Northpower Fibre and Crown Fibre Holdings. But it is also a partnership with those RSPs, together with local authorities, schools and education facilities, the health sector, the Northland Chamber of Commerce and Whangarei businesses.

“We are now putting electronics in place that will power our network. When we are ready to connect larger volumes of premises to Northpower Fibre’s network next year, we will see the beginning of the opportunities that only fibre can help realise. This is an immense step-change in communication for Northland and New Zealand.

“Fibre will be truly transformational for Whangarei. It will put people in contact with the rest of the world by providing an instant and reliable communications platform. That will provide immense opportunities for our community.”

Mrs Brosnahan says fibre will be a massive enabler for Northland children, giving them access to all of the educational opportunities that the internet provides.

“One has only to visit Manaia View School to see what those opportunities can do for our children. This will be one of the first New Zealand communities to fully benefit from a fibre network.”

Northpower Fibre’s network will pass more than 18,000 educational, healthcare, business and residential premises by June 2014.

The build is being overseen by CEO Darren Mason who has played an integral role in Northpower Fibre’s network build and expansion since its inception in 2007.

Mrs Brosnahan anticipates steady uptake levels by the local market over the next 3 years as the value of fibre becomes more visible.

“Our focus is on making the most of this opportunity because fibre is the future and will be invaluable for the local economy. We can only do this in partnership with the Whangarei community, taking advantage of the opportunities that fibre brings. We are leading the fibre build in New Zealand - we can also lead the fibre uptake.”

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