Manukau steals march on rest

By ADAM GIFFORD

Manukau is set to be the first New Zealand city to require broadband internet connections to new subdivisions.

Dr Praful Rambhai, the council's director of community and economic development, said all subdivisions must include a telecommunications network.

"That is currently focussed on voice. As part of our Smart Manukau strategy we intend to expand that interpretation of the district plan to include broadband.

"In the past infrastructure was seen as building roads. Now we have to get smart and make sure when businesses locate here they can have reasonable access to information."

The first area likely to benefit from the policy will be Flatbush to the south of Otara, which will get up to 40,000 new residents over the next 10 years.

East Tamaki, Manukau City centre and the expected redevelopment of Manurewa and the Papatoetoe-Hunters Corner area will also be included.

Rambhai said the council wanted to avoid a repeat of Dannemora, where residents could not get broadband connections despite Telecom laying fibre along the streets.

The council had to identify a demand before Telecom would modify its network so it could offer its copper-based Jetstream service to the 3700 residential customers and 650 businesses in the suburb.

Telecom spokesman Phil Love said that Telecom would support Manukau's policy.

"We are happy to work with developers on this," Love said.

He refused to say whether Telecom would provide broadband-ready connections to subdivisions outside Manukau.

Similar problems to Dannemora have been encountered in Rodney. Lloyd Barker of Cabra Holdings, which is developing 500 sites at The Grange in Orewa, said some residents were still trying to get Jetstream into the suburb, more than a year after their homes were built.

Dannemora general manager Graeme Causer said compliance with the new policy would depend on Telecom.

"In most areas Telecom is the only option,' Causer said.

"Part of the problem is Telecom is ripping everyone off with its fees, but if the services are required to be provided, we have to provide it," Causer said.

The only companies which have so far been willing to provide fibre connections for homes and small businesses are Wellington-based Citylink and Counties Power's Wired Country initiative in the Pukekohe area.

Counties Power chief executive Neil Simmonds said the company would need to assess the business case before agreeing to wire up Manukau subdivisions.

"We are considering it. Every subdivision we do is lowering the cost of how we do it, because we learn how to do it better," Simmonds said.

He said wiring up subdivisions outside its core area would require it to negotiate backhaul deals with other telecommunications providers.

Rambhai said Manukau did not want to get involved in the debate about whether fibre or copper-based services were more suitable for the new networks.

"We have to be careful we don't interfere with market. We are not technical experts to say which solution is best, we are just interested in making it sure gets done," Rambhai said.

Manukau mayor Sir Barry Curtis said developers have been invited to a broadband forum on December 3 to find out what sort of broadband infrastructure future residents may be seeking.

"I call this future proofing new Manukau development," Sir Barry said.

"I believe it is vital for our plans for the continuing growth and advancement of Manukau. We are New Zealand's most rapidly-growing city.

"The goal is to have every household in Manukau wired with a choice of high-speed internet, making the city attractive for business. It is vital for new investment and jobs."