1.2 million can now connect under UFB and RBI

  • Amy Adams
Communications

Under the Government’s Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) and Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) rollouts, more than 1.2 million New Zealanders can now connect to faster and more reliable internet, Communications Minister Amy Adams announced today.

“Now, more than 921,000 households, businesses, schools and hospitals are able to connect to the UFB network, and more than 285,000 rural premises are able to access a RBI service,” says Ms Adams.

“Access to better broadband means more New Zealand businesses and students can make the most of the digital economy.”

As at 31 March 2016, nationwide uptake of UFB had nearly reached 200,000, or 21.3 per cent, with the build in sixteen regional towns now complete.

“The RBI continues to extend coverage to rural areas across New Zealand and uptake of these services by both residential and business customers has reached 37.3 per cent,” says Ms Adams.

“Together, both initiatives mean over 1.2 million New Zealanders can connect to faster internet. The rollouts are on target and lifting internet speeds across New Zealand.”

A total of 142 newly built Rural Broadband towers are in operation, making the new tower build 92 per cent complete. In the last three months, over two million individual mobile devices accessed services from the new RBI towers.

“Tower upgrades are now 87 per cent complete, with 338 RBI towers upgraded. New and upgraded towers have meant around 269,000 homes and businesses in rural areas are able to connect to 3G or 4G fixed wireless.

“Nearly 1200 cabinets in rural areas have been upgraded under the RBI, meaning that over 108,000 rural households and businesses can now access faster copper broadband,” says Ms Adams.

At a glance (as at March 2016):

  • Over 921,000 households, businesses, schools and hospitals are now able to connect to UFB
  • UFB uptake has reached 21.3 per cent
  • Over 285,000 addresses can access either a fixed wireless or improved fixed line service as a result of RBI
  • New tower build is 92 per cent complete, and tower upgrades are 87 per cent complete
  • Under the UFB, RBI and Remote Schools Broadband Initiative programmes 2489 schools are now able to connect to a faster broadband service.

The quarterly update is available here: http://goo.gl/Bb45Jm