Broadband rollout on target

The rollout of ultra-fast broadband in Masterton and broadband to rural Wairarapa will be nearly complete within three years, says Chorus spokeswoman Kathy Wiltshire.

She said the rollout schemes - Ultra-fast Broadband (UFB) and Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) - were launched in 2011 and workers in Wairarapa were on target for the June end of the project's second year.

"You are one of the areas leading the country," Ms Wiltshire said.

She said year two of the scheme was two-thirds complete with only two more fibre optic cabinet areas still to be established.

Each cabinet services about 200 premises and will comprise high-speed data cables to the gate or doorway of homes and businesses that support services such as internet television and high definition video conferencing.

The Government broadband rollout involves the laying of thousands of kilometres of fibre optic cable throughout the country and ducting to bring ultra-fast broadband to more than 830,000 homes and businesses across New Zealand.

"Fibre can deliver large amounts of data further and faster than the copper cables that traditionally deliver telecommunications services."

Ms Wiltshire said the national rollout was expected to be completed by 2019 and provincial areas such as Wairarapa would be hooked up long before the main centres, which require a higher density of cabinets and cables.

Ms Wiltshire praised Masterton District Council for its involvement and ongoing support for the rollout.

"We have a pretty special relationship. The council is very keen to help.

"They recognise the economic benefits to the region."

Ms Wiltshire says at least three weeks before UFB work starts in a street, residents will receive a leaflet and a letter advising of the upcoming work and its impact.

Chorus had a network and service availability map that displays the first five years of the UFB rollout and RBI, including rural schools.

"This means you can check on the progress of their planned network upgrades, including UFB and RBI, and find out what services are available to you."

- Go online and enter your home address - to confirm its inclusion in the rollout - at http://chorus.co.nz/fibre-rollout-map.