Chorus commences stage two of UFB rollout

New Zealand wholesale operator Chorus has commenced the second phase of the Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) initiative, which will involve the rollout of the national fiber network to 169 new areas including 18 towns.

The build has commenced in the coastal town of Kokitika on the West Coast, and will be extended to other towns in the region including Westport, Reefton and Runanga.

The state-led UFB program will deliver fiber broadband to around 1.3 million premises including households, businesses and schools, representing around 85% of the population – up from the initial target of 75%.

Up to NZ$410 million ($280 million) in funding has been allocated for the second stage of the project. Chorus was selected as the main private partner for the rollout after agreeing to separate from what is now Spark as part of the break up of the former Telecom New Zealand’s wholesale and retail operations.

The remaining areas of the country are receiving enhanced broadband under the concurrent Rural Broadband Initiative.

“Today we’ve taken the first step toward bringing world-class connectivity to Hokitika,” Chorus general manager of infrastructure Ed Beattie said.

“Fiber provides the broadband equivalent of an autobahn right to the door of homes and businesses, and it will future-proof Hokitika for the anticipated continued growth in data consumption for generations to come.”