Woosh expands Auckland coverage

11.45am

After a failed attempt to expand its broadband network into regional New Zealand, Woosh Wireless today announced it has extended its coverage in West Auckland.

Coverage now includes areas serviced from five new transmission sites in Te Atatu South, Henderson, Glen Eden, Te Atatu Peninsula and New Lynn.

Chief executive Bob Smith said Woosh was continuing to move as rapidly as it could to expand its coverage in the wider Auckland area and last month the company launched its service in central Wellington.

While the company's urban expansion is well underway, its forays into the regions has been less successful.

Earlier this month Woosh lost a contract worth an estimated $45 million to rollout broadband services in three regions.

The Auckland-based wireless network company last year won tenders to rollout broadband networks for Northland, Wairarapa, Canterbury and Southland -- as part of the Government's Provincial Broadband Extension Project, or Probe.

But Woosh has only signed a contract with Southland and could not meet the deadline of providing service to the other three regions by the end of the year.

Woosh is tipped to list on the stock exchange next year.

- NZPA