Enable ramps up Christchurch UFB build


Enable extended its ultra-fast broadband (UFB) network by 6,000 premises to the end of June 2012 – meaning over 16,000 Christchurch homes and businesses will be able to access fibre broadband when Enable launches its residential and small business services.

“We began building our UFB network on 8 November 2011 and we are on the verge of bringing fibre broadband into Christchurch homes for the very first time,” says Enable CEO Steve Fuller.

“We will soon launch new services to 5,000 potential customers in Halswell. We have a number of customers in the suburb trialling these services already and experiencing broadband speeds at home of up to 100Mbps.”

Enable has almost completed its UFB build to the commercial parts of Hornby and Woolston, is growing its network to more businesses in Middleton, and will have services available to homes and businesses in Papanui and Bishopdale later this year.

“The progress we’ve made represents an enormous ramp up from a standing start in November and we will continue to accelerate our build programme over the next year,” says Mr Fuller.

“For example, since mid-2011, delivery of this huge infrastructure project has created about 350 new jobs in Christchurch – from inside Enable managing the business to civil construction teams out in the suburbs actually building the network.”

Since announcing its wholesale UFB offering in February, Enable has signed up 26 retail service providers (RSPs) to develop and sell services over its UFB network – more than any other UFB provider.

“This means local customers will have significant choice on technology and telecommunications provider, as well as the widest range of fibre broadband services to choose from,” says Mr Fuller.

Enable has also been working closely with its RSPs to continue to deliver the benefits of fibre broadband services to Christchurch businesses, schools, healthcare facilities and government agencies. Today, Enable has about 650 Christchurch customers, including all the major health entities and 59 schools, all connected and benefiting from fibre broadband.

 “We expect our number of customers to grow very quickly over the coming months. Especially once our retail service partners launch exciting new fibre broadband packages in Christchurch that cost no more per month than much slower copper services,” says Mr Fuller.