10,000 Christchurch locals now connected to fibre broadband

10,000 Christchurch locals now connected to fibre broadband – with tremendous uptake in some areas

Christchurch fibre network provider, Enable ended March with over 10,000 customers connected to its network - a 220 percent increase in connections in the last 12 months.

“A little over two years ago we were excited about having 1,000 connections. This time last year, it was 3,000. To now be above 10,000 demonstrates the tremendous interest in fibre broadband across our community – as well as an increased understanding of the benefits of better, faster broadband connectivity,” says Enable CEO, Steve Fuller.

“Uptake is approaching 15 percent across all areas where we have launched fibre broadband – which is very positive. Our uptake rate in some specific local towns and suburbs is well beyond this and quite exceptional.”

The Rolleston and Wigram communities are at 35 percent of homes and business connected to fibre broadband; Lincoln and Halswell will soon reach 30 percent; and Addington, Burnside and Bishopdale are over 20 percent.

“If you are living in these suburbs and you have not connected to fibre yet, chances are at least one – if not two – of your immediate neighbours are connected and enjoying better, faster broadband,” says Mr Fuller.

“What we are seeing in these communities is truly world-leading – when you consider that New Zealand is experiencing the highest growth in fibre connections amongst OECD countries with a national uptake rate of 11.3 percent.”

“It’s highly likely that by the end of this year more people in Rolleston will be enjoying the benefits of fibre broadband than remain on copper. Remarkable, given that we only launched services across the town in October 2013.”

Enable has also launched fibre broadband services to 6,500 new addresses across Christchurch during April – bringing Enable’s total fibre broadband coverage to 78,000 homes and businesses. The new coverage areas include parts of New Brighton, Parklands, Aranui, Wainoni, Linwood, Woolston, Waltham, Sydenham, Edgeware, Fendalton, Ilam and the central city.

“We look forward to seeing the people in these suburbs enjoying the benefits of fibre broadband in growing numbers over the coming months,” adds Mr Fuller.

ends

© Scoop Media