New Zealand marked the official launch of its ultra fast broadband (UFB)
rollout with the first fibre laid today at Manaia View School in Whangarei. The announcement follows confirmation of a deal between Crown Fibre Holdings – the government agency set up to manage the Crown’s $1.5 billion investment in UFB – and Northpower Limited. Under this arrangement, fibre will be rolled out to nearly 52,000 people in Whangarei by 2014, including more than 2,000 business premises, over 300 healthcare services, and more than 20 schools in the region.
“This the first stage in a government plan which will see fibre enabling speeds of at least 100 Mbps rolled out to 75 per cent of New Zealanders where they live, work and study,” stated Steven Joyce, New Zealand’s Minister for Communications and Information.
http://www.crownfibre.govt.nz
