Regional Fibre Group Launched (28/04/09)
A group made up of lines companies and local fibre companies has been formed to support the Government’s vision of introducing ultra-fast fibre broadband to New Zealand.
Vector Chief Executive Simon Mackenzie said that the NZ Regional Fibre Group brought together the collective wisdom and experience of several different regional operators with expertise in open access networks.
“We welcome the opportunity to submit on the Government’s Broadband Investment proposal which will leap frog New Zealand to world class broadband.
“With our respective capabilities and existing assets in electricity and fibre networks as well as associated rights of way, we believe that we are very well placed to help realise the Government’s bold vision of delivering fibre to the premise for New Zealanders.
“Our view is that the most effective means to achieve this vision is through a nationally aligned, regionally based model based on transparent, open access principles. Our membership pretty much spans most of New Zealand ensuring extensive broadband coverage.”
Mr Mackenzie said that in its submission the group had focused on two key areas:
- That the funding model needs to stack up commercially to provide returns for investors
- The need to ensure rapid and maximum fibre update – in particular that a market structure is created with low barriers to entry enabling open service competition to all segments of the market resulting in maximum customer choice.
“There is still a great deal of detail to be considered, to which the group can add significant value through its united collaboration and the leveraging of existing expertise.”
Members of the New Zealand Regional Fibre Group include Vector, Aurora, Northpower, Waikato based WEL Networks, Unison, PowerNet, Christchurch City Networks, Network Tasman, and Velocity Networks.
As well as a collective submission to the Government on its Broadband Investment Initiative several members of the New Zealand Regional Fibre Group have also submitted individually. The submission will be posted on the Ministry of Economic Development website.
For more information please contact:
Vector External Communications Manager
Philippa White, 021 579 522, 09 978 7638
New Zealand Regional Fibre Group
Aurora
Aurora Energy Limited (Aurora) is an Electricity Lines Business serving the Dunedin, coastal Otago, and Central Otago communities. Aurora has developed Flute Network, an emerging open-access fibre-optic network located within the CBD areas of Dunedin and Queenstown.
Christchurch City Networks
Christchurch City Networks owns a substantial fibre network, already over 100kms. The network uses world leading technology which has been purposely designed and constructed for FTTP.
Network Tasman
Network Tasman operates the electricity distribution network in the wider Nelson and Tasman areas, as well as a regional fibre optic network, thelink.
thelink is the largest independent regional fibre network in New Zealand and consists of over 360km of fibre optic cable servicing customers in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough to the benefit of the entire community.
Northpower
Northpower has expanded from a Northland owned and operated electricity distribution network to become one of the largest contracting service providers in New Zealand. Northpower also has one of the most advanced open access FTTP, next generation networks using PON technology providing voice and data services to businesses in Whangarei.
PowerNet
PowerNet is a joint venture asset management company that manages and represents the three electricity network owners Electricity Invercargill, The Power Company and OtagoNet Joint Venture which own the electricity networks throughout Southland and much of Otago. PowerNet is working in conjunction with Venture Southland (a joint venture owned by the three local Councils in Southland) which has been responsible for the development and managed delivery of a region wide wireless broadband network and has been actively involved in the design and use of fibre optic infrastructure in Invercargill.
Unison
Unison Networks Limited is the power lines company that delivers electricity to businesses and homes across Hawke’s Bay, Taupo and Rotorua. Unison is one of the largest provincial electricity power lines companies in New Zealand. We are deploying fibre along core routes throughout our network and are keen to provide high-speed broadband services by utilising the natural synergies between electricity supply and fibre rollout.
Vector
Vector is one of the largest owners and managers of multi-network infrastructure in New Zealand. Over the last year, Vector has extended its state-of-the-art open access fibre optic network adding over 100 km of new network in Auckland and Wellington. The network now totals more than 770km.
Velocity Networks
Velocity Networks is the Operator of the Hamilton Fibre Network providing an ultra fast open access broadband network across Hamilton city. The network provides connections to commercial, local government, health and education users across the city, providing dark fibre and Metro Ethernet connections at speeds of up to 1Gbps (1000Mbps). Operating as an ‘open access’ community network, users are free to subscribe to services from a range of application and internet service providers on the network.
WEL Networks
WEL Networks owns and manages the electricity network infrastructure in the Waikato region, centered around and to the north of Hamilton. WEL owns an extensive communications network incorporating rural broadband radio and a point to point fibre network connecting strategic electricity network nodes in Hamilton and environs.
