UFB partners named for Northland and central North Island

UFB partners named for Northland and central North Island

By Peter Kerr

Dec. 7 (BusinessDesk) - Crown Fibre Holdings, the government's negotiating entity to roll-out its ultra-fast broadband network, has announced its first two regional partners for Northland and the central North Island.

Lines company Northpower is to commence its roll out in Whangarei before Christmas, and Ultra Fast Fibre Ltd, which is owned by WEL Networks, will begin laying early in 2011, with both expected to have completed the cable-laying by 2015. UFF will roll out fibre in Hamilton, Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Tauranga, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Hawera and Tokoroa.

The announcement confirms earlier flagged short-listed deals for the regions, and though Telecom has expressed disappointment as it pitched for a nationwide solution, it is still in the hunt for the Auckland fibre roll-out and hasn’t ruled out partnering with other successful bidders. Today’s announcement made no mention of Alpine Energy, which was put in the box seat to win Timaru.

The two regional partner joint ventures represent nearly 16% of UFB premises and a combined value of more than $200 million, while the UFB initiative will see 75% coverage of ultra-fast broadband across New Zealand by 2019, with the government putting up $1.35 billion.

Communications Minister Steven Joyce said CFH negotiated access prices with the two regional partners to ensure the benefits of fibre are within reach of businesses and everyday New Zealanders, and will let him turn the first sod before the year’s end.

Wholesale household prices will start at $40 or less per month for an entry level product and $60 per month for the 100 Megabit product. There are no connection charges for households.

CFH said it will shortly announce a list of parties with whom it will negotiate to rollout fibre in the remaining 25 UFB regions.

(BusinessDesk)

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