What we do

Infrastructure

Broadband

The Internet is becoming a more and more pervasive part of our lives. New Zealanders are using the Internet to access more information in new forms, to communicate more and in new ways, to collaborate without regard to location, to buy and sell goods and services, to run their businesses, and to teach their children.

These requirements have outstripped legacy technologies which are struggling to keep pace. New Zealand's ability to access the Internet for these many and increasing demands depends on investment in new technologies. For this reason, the Government decided to support investment to improve Internet access speeds in New Zealand, through the Ultra-Fast and Rural Broadband initiatives. Tauranga has been prioritised for roll out of ultra fast broadband with recent economic analysis undertaken by Priority One suggesting the potential for a 7-9% increase in regional GDP if businesses and residents adopt the new fibre offerings.

Broadband infrastructure is an enabler: it is necessary but not enough by itself. Extracting value from the options broadband enables requires the development and uptake of these applications. The sorts of applications enabled by fast broadband are those that move a lot of data quickly, such as high quality audio, video and remote hosting. Priority One is currently working with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council on the development of a regional ICT strategy designed to maximise the economic benefit of the regions technology sector. Priority One is also working with its partners in Te Puke and Katikati to expedite the delivery of fibre and related services into communities adversely effected by PSA and the grounding of the Rena.

Ultrafast Fibre Ltd is the local fibre company contracted to lay fibre in Tauranga under the Governments broadband initiative. Construction began in August 2011 and will be completed in 2016. From 1 April, 2012 590 local business premises will be able to connect to the Ultrafast Fibre network through their preferred retail service provider. Additionally, 3400 residential premises will be able to connect from 1 July. To find out when Ultrafast Fibre is coming to your street visit: www.ultrafastbroadband.co.nz/coverage-areas.

Vodafone and Chorus are responsible for deploying the Rural Broadband initiative in the Western Bay of Plenty District.