Local IT firm among first to connect to UFB network

Safemode, a locally owned IT service provider, is one the first companies to connect to the UFB fibre being deployed in Wanganui under the Government's $1.35 billion UFB (ultra-fast broadband) initiative. This bodes well for local businesses because Safemode is now able to offer "real life" advice on connecting to the UFB fibre network and taking advantage of UFB and the cloud-based services UFB makes available.

As a result of phenomenal growth that Safemode has experienced in the past year, and in anticipation of even greater growth resulting from UFB fibre connections, Safemode's manager, Anthony Duxfield, said they were in the process of moving to larger premises.

As part of the change, the company had moved its email and Microsoft SharePoint system from an on-premise Microsoft Exchange Server/Microsoft SharePoint Server to Microsoft's Office 365, a fully cloud-based service providing big-business tools to small to medium businesses (SMBs); reducing costs and ongoing overheads.

Duxfield emphasised that when a SMB migrated to the UFB fibre network, it was important to secure the services of an IT company to plan and manage the implementation, as the network connection was only the first step.

Commerce Commission recommendations for wholesale broadband pricing.

Prime Minister John Key says the Government will not rule out using legislation to overrule Commerce Commission recommendations for wholesale broadband pricing.

The Commerce Commission has proposed deep cuts to the price Chorus can charge for Unbundled Bitstream Access, which is used to provide broadband, from $21.46 to $8.93 a month.

In his weekly e-newsletter, Telecommunications Association of NZ (TUANZ) chief executive Paul Bristen said: "I object most strenuously to protecting one company over and above the rest of the industry. TUANZ fought long and hard to get out from under the boot of just such a regime and it's unacceptable that we are moving back to it.

"What about the investors in CallPlus, Orcon, TelstraClear or Vodafone who have invested in unbundling and delivered innovation and dynamism to the industry the likes of which we've never seen before?

"The cost of providing telecommunications services has decreased over the past decade. Why is it that decrease isn't recognised and passed on to those of us who use the service?"

Article contributed by the Wanganui Employers Chamber of Commerce UFB Business Strategy Group. Email: john.patty@xtra.co.nz