Chorus begins ultra-fast broadband rollout in Oamaru

7 December 2012

Chorus begins ultra-fast broadband rollout in Oamaru

Chorus today marked the start of the ultra-fast broadband (UFB) rollout in Oamaru, with some areas of the central business district the first to benefit.

This massive programme of work will see the new UFB network deployed across the central and northern areas of Oamaru over the next 18 months, before extending further into the remaining urban areas. In addition, Chorus’ existing 13km fibre network is already available for businesses to connect to fibre today, ahead of the new network.

Chorus General Manager for Network Build, Chris Dyhrberg, said the new local ultra-fast broadband network will put some 1,500 customers in reach of fibre services, as well as connect eight local schools by July 2014.

“Today we’ve taken the first step towards Oamaru’s fibre rollout and we’re eager to work with partners, local council and community groups to extend our network to even more suburbs in the coming years,” said Dyhrberg.

In line with UFB policy, fibre will be delivered first to priority customers, which includes schools, hospitals, medical facilities and businesses.

Eight Oamaru schools are being passed altogether, but two schools are being passed in the first tranche deployment, to June 2013. They are Pembroke School and Oamaru Intermediate.

The total UFB investment in Oamaru is now more than $18.5 million, of which the Crown’s contribution is around $6.5 million.

Chorus’ website has as an online map outlining the UFB deployment areas, its initial deployment plans and business fibre areas. This means people can check on the rollout progress and find out if they can connect to the existing business fibre network ahead of the UFB deployment.

In all, Chorus’ will extend the reach of its existing 29,000km fibre network to deploy UFB past more than 830,000 urban homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and medical facilities throughout New Zealand by the end of 2019.

Chorus is New Zealand's largest telecommunications utility company. It maintains and builds a network predominately made up of local telephone exchanges, cabinets and some 1.8 million copper and fibre optic lines connecting homes and businesses throughout the country. Its open access network and innovative new wholesale products and services are used by many different phone and internet service providers, helping them to deliver the services their customers rely on. Chorus is included in the NZX 10 Index comprising New Zealand's 10 largest domestic companies. More information is available at www.chorus.co.nz.

Chorus’ online map outlining its UFB deployment plans can be viewed at: www.chorus.co.nz/fibre-rollout-map

ENDS

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