Full speed ahead for ultra-fast broadband

Published: 13.10.2009

Cabinet has signed off on a range of initiatives that will accelerate New Zealand’s broadband infrastructure into the 21st Century.

The government is committing up to $1.5 billion, which is expected to be at least matched by private sector investment, to deliver ultra-fast broadband to 75 percent of New Zealanders within ten years.

“Delivering fibre to the home is an essential part of the infrastructure for a strongly growing 21st century economy. It will play a key role in improving the productivity of our country as we move out of recession and into a period of growth,” said Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce in Parliament last month.

The Government also proposes getting fast broadband to the remaining 25 percent of New Zealanders living outside the footprint of the urban ultra-fast broadband initiative with a $300 million investment in fibre optics to rural schools over the next six years.

"Providing fibre to the vast majority of rural schools will effectively deliver the capacity to provide faster broadband to the communities they serve. Fibre backhaul is currently the primary limiting factor in the delivery of rural broadband and getting fibre to schools will address that,” said Mr Joyce.

The government’s tender process for the urban initiative will be announced this month. Tenders for the rural broadband initiative will be sought in November. Information on both will be made available at www.med.govt.nz/ultra-fast-broadband and www.med.govt.nz/rural-broadband respectively.

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