Ultra-fast broadband rollout begins

Photo / Richard Robinson

A Northland lines company has allowed the Minister for Communications to drive its digger, to launch the country's new ultra-fast broadband rollout.

Joyce has laid the first fibre cable in the grounds of Manaia View School in Whangarei.

Northpower is now underway installing fibre cables alongside its existing lines infrastructure, making Whangarei the first place in the country to have the technology.

Joyce said the rollout was significant, as schools are high broadband users, and pupils need the technology.

"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.

"The UFB policy is a key platform for the government and after a huge amount of work behind the scenes I'm pleased now to see some concrete results," said Joyce.

Today's announcement follows confirmation of a deal last week between Crown Fibre Holdings - the government agency set up to manage the Crown's $1.5 billion investment in UFB - and Northpower Limited.

NZ HERALD ONLINE / NEWSTALK ZB