With residential construction continuing to grow in Canterbury, builders are delivering thousands of new homes for people who expect fast, reliable broadband from the moment they move in.

Reports show that 7,721 new residential building consents were issued in the year ending February 2026, a 16% increase on the previous year, exceeding the national average growth of 12% over the same period.*
 
As demand for new housing continues, builders are increasingly expected to deliver homes that are ready for today's digital lifestyle. That means making fibre connectivity part of the build… not an afterthought.

Why do fibre-ready homes matter?

Fast, reliable internet has become an essential household utility alongside electricity, water and wastewater. For builders, ensuring homes are fibre-ready during construction is an important part of delivering a complete, future-ready build.

Designing for fibre early means homes can support today’s digital lifestyles - whether that’s working from home, streaming, gaming, or managing a busy connected household.

Unlike wireless broadband services, which are shared across a neighbourhood, fibre provides a dedicated connection to each home. This delivers more consistent performance, even when multiple devices are online at once.


Meeting residents expectations from day one

In today’s connected world, people living in a home expect to move in and be ready to connect on day one, without extra work required after property handover. For builders, factoring fibre installation in during construction ensures the finished home meets these expectations and avoids rework once the build is complete.

Why should you plan for fibre during construction?

Installing fibre is straightforward when it’s planned alongside the rest of the build. Early engagement allows for a smooth fibre delivery experience, working alongside your build program.

Enable Business Development Manager, Chris Gant explains:

“Our goal is to make it as easy as possible to engage with Enable and fit fibre installation into home builds. Our team is always available to talk through the process and what the steps look like.”

This approach helps to:

•    Avoid rework or retrofitting
•    Ensure the home is ready to connect once the homeowner or resident moves in.
•    Meets homeowner expectations of a fibre-ready build 

Keen to know more?

Find out how Enable works with builders to deliver fibre-ready homes.


*Stats NZ, Building consents issued: February 2026