Fibre companies respond to demand for even faster broadband

Media Release

27 June 2013

Fibre companies respond to demand for even faster broadband at a great price

Fibre network providers Enable, Ultrafast Fibre and Northpower Fibre have today announced a new 50Mbps download and 20Mbps upload fibre broadband product, with a wholesale price for the residential service of only $39.95 per month. The new product will be available for retail service providers to purchase and provide to their customers by 31 August 2013.

“The availability of online services and what people want to do over the internet is changing very quickly,” said Enable CEO, Steve Fuller.

“Our base-level 30Mbps download/10Mbps upload product is still a big jump in consistent broadband performance for most customers moving from copper. With new online services coming to market all the time and more connected devices being used more frequently, we’ve recognised the need for even faster fibre broadband at a very good price.”

In recent months, TV networks have begun to embrace the online content era – with new TV On Demand services, and retail service providers are regularly announcing new services for fibre and looking to deliver more online content as part of their packages.

“Last week’s announcement that English Premier League football will be delivered to New Zealand fans online tells us that the new services released recently are just the tip of the iceberg,” said Northpower Fibre CEO, Darren Mason.

“Demand for high definition sport content provided online – combined with the limitations of ADSL and VDSL copper broadband – means customers need fibre broadband, which provides sufficient bandwidth for multiple users simultaneously.”

Ultrafast Fibre CEO, Maxine Elliott said, “We know people want more bandwidth because we’ve seen much greater uptake of our 100Mbps download /50Mbps upload residential service than we ever anticipated – and this is even with the price premium that comes with this service.”

At $39.95 the new residential 50 Mbps download /20 Mbps upload fibre broadband service is only $2.45 more than the current base-level wholesale fibre broadband service and is cheaper for retail service providers than either ADSL or VDSL copper broadband. The business version of the 50Mbps download /20Mbps upload product is $49.95 or the same price as the current 30Mbps download / 10Mbps upload, entry level service.

“Ultimately the retail pricing is up to service providers but our wholesale price should mean that residential customers will be able to enjoy the higher performance for only a few dollars more and business customers won’t face any extra cost,” added Ms Elliott.

Enable is building its fibre broadband network in Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri; Ultrafast Fibre is building in Hamilton, Tauranga, Wanganui, New Plymouth, Tokoroa, Hawera, Cambridge and Te Awamutu; and Northpower Fibre in Whangarei.

This new 50Mbps download /20Mbps upload fibre broadband service will be available where the network build has been completed within these coverage areas only. This means, approximately 85,000 business and residential customers will be able to access the new product from 31 August.

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