CallPlus joins UFB business fibre fray with unlimited data plans

CallPlus says it is now offering businesses in 17 regions fibre plans via the Ultrafast Broadband (UFB) rollout.  

The government sais earlier this week that fibre had been rolled past 100,000 premises under the 10-year public-private project, backed by $1.35 billion from the taxpayer (although only around 1000 customers have taken advantage of the opportunity to connect so far).

CallPlus says 25,000 businesses are within reach of its UFB fibre plans in parts of 17 regions (Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Hawera, Invercargill, Masteron, Napier, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Pukekohe, Rotorua, Taupo, Tauranga, Whanganui, Wellington and Whangarei).

For $130 a month business customers will receive unlimited internet of up to 30Mbit/s download and 10Mbit/s upload – with no data cap.  Also included in the business bundles are online backup to disaster proof business data, a web domain name and web hosting, CallPlus says. Two analogue lines will also be included.

A $230 a month plan boosts speed to 100Mbit/s download and 50Mbit/s upload.

For $480 a month you get maximum 100Mbit/s speed in both directions.

Unlike the residential market, where the government recently stung Chorus with $20 million in extra costs to ensure free connection until the end of 2015, businesses have to pay to connect to the UFB.

Setup costs were not immediately detailed, but most of the UFB companies are charging a connection cost equal to three months' usage charges  [UPDATE: CallPlus says connection will be free - as long as a business signs up for a two-year contract]

CallPlus has already launched residential UFB plans through its Slingshot subsidiary.