Chorus Confirms Two-Year UFB Fiber Build Expansion Plans

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - Chorus confirmed its plans for the next two-year deployment of its fiber buildout. The plan, which extends from July 2014 to June 2016, will see Chorus begin work in the last of its 24 candidate areas, Waiheke Island in Auckland, as well as finishing work in nine other provincial towns and cities. These are Blenheim, Ashburton, Timaru and Oamaru by the end of June 2015 and Waiuku, Rotorua, Taupo, Greymouth and Queenstown by the end of June 2016.

Chorus GM of Infrastructure Build, Ed Beattie, said that Chorus and the government’s UFB build program is on track to extend the reach of its fiber network further, so that more New Zealanders can have access to high speed broadband services.

“Years four and five of our build will see Chorus deploy fiber to over 250,000 New Zealand homes, schools, medical centers and businesses. This will bring the number of customers in Chorus areas who are able to connect to UFB to more than half a million,” said Beattie. “We plan to have completed around 57 percent of our UFB coverage target by June 2016.”

Chorus is also working with local councils, communities and the industry to help them make the most of UFB when it comes to their area. In line with UFB policy, fiber is being delivered first to priority customers including schools, hospitals, medical facilities and businesses.

By the end of 2019, Chorus will have extended the reach of its existing 18,000-mile fiber network to deploy UFB past more than 830,000 urban homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and medical facilities throughout New Zealand.