14 February 2011

Thousands more Blenheim residents can now benefit from faster internet access as local telecommunications network operator Chorus completes its work to rev-up broadband speeds.

Chorus has deployed 19km of fibre optic cable and installed 26 new fibre fed cabinets to extend broadband speeds of at least 10Mbps to customers not already getting the faster internet experience following upgrade work at the local telephone exchange.

This massive investment programme has built upon the 178km of fibre already in the Blenheim region and is part of Telecom’s commitment to enable the delivery of high speed broadband to 80 percent of New Zealanders by the end of this year.

With Blenheim among the first areas in the country to be completed, Chorus Field Services Manager Ed Beattie said more than 11,000 Blenheim customers are now within reach of faster internet access.

“We’ve extended our fibre optic cable network further into local neighbourhoods and installed new roadside cabinets. These cabinets provide broadband services to those customers who live too far away from the equipment in their local telephone exchange,”

“Service providers are already installing broadband equipment which can deliver speeds of up to 50Mbps for customers within about one kilometre of our cabinets,” he said.

Blenheim customers who are near the local telephone exchange will continue to receive service directly from the broadband equipment located at the exchange.

Mr Beattie noted that although the broadband network has been upgraded, customers also have an important part to play in making the most of the new faster broadband capability.

“A customer’s broadband service is also affected by factors including their broadband plan, modem, computer, and the wiring in their home or business. We encourage Blenheim residents who believe their broadband performance is still limited in some way to talk directly with their broadband service provider.”

Chorus allows phone and internet service providers to deliver services using their network. Chorus focuses on doing what they do well, building and maintaining networks, so service providers can create great new services tailored for their customers.

Chorus’ focus is now on completing the deployment of 4 new fibre fed cabinets in Picton before July this year. In all, Chorus is three quarters of the way through the roll out of about 3,600 fibre fed cabinets, building on Telecom’s existing 26,600km national fibre optic cable network.

ENDS

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