In January 2017 the New Zealand Government announced an investment of $300 million to extend the ultra fast broadband network build to another 423,000 New Zealanders across a further 151 towns.
"Having access to fast and reliable broadband is critical to growing our regional economies and to New Zealand’s future," Mr Bridges says
"Over one million New Zealand households and businesses already have access to fibre. Our plan to extend UFB is now underway in eight towns and areas, with Picton, Horotiu, Thames, Dargaville and One Tree Point starting this month," Mr Bridges says.
"Once the UFB build is completed by the end of 2024, approximately 85 per cent of New Zealanders will have access to speeds of close to 1000 Megabits per second.
"This means more productive businesses, improvements to health care through video-conferencing between doctors, specialists and patients, and improved access to online resources for students and teachers," Mr Bridges says.
Further information that includes a full list of the towns and other areas that are receiving access to fibre broadband in each region and an indication of timing for the UFB rollout, is available at www.broadband.govt.nz. If you are lucky enough to already have fibre broadband access then you can compare broadband plans and internet providers now on Broadband Compare including the best Fibre Broadband Plans for July 2017.
