Ultrafast broadband expanding fast in Northland

Northpower Fibre has connected ultrafast broadband to its 10,000th customer in Whangarei. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Northpower Fibre has connected its 10,000th customer on the ultrafast broadband network in central Whangarei and surrounding areas just seven years after the company was formed.

By the first quarter of next year, the company expects to have connected 50 per cent of all possible premises to the network in residential and commercial premises, which will give Whangarei one of the highest uptake rates in the country.

Andrew McLeod, chief executive of Northpower which owns Northpower Fibre, said the company was already connecting customers in Hikurangi and that connections in Waipu would start on January 20.

The One Tree Point UFB network was well under way with the first connections available in July 2018.

A $2.5 million investment on the construction of stage one in and around central Dargaville will connect 1052 customers over the next year with locals able to connect in September 2018.

Mr McLeod said by the end of next year, 3172 customers would be able to connect to one of the best UFB networks at Hikurangi, Dargaville West, Waipu and One Tree Point.

When completed at a cost of more than $30 million, he said more than 9000 premises in rural towns in Whangarei and Kaipara would be connected to the Northpower UFB network.

There are more than 20 telecommunication companies offering broadband packages on the Northpower Fibre network.