Key questions about the Government's ultrafast broadband scheme remain unanswered, the Labour Party says.The Government yesterday announced the first areas that would be part of its rollout of ultra-fast broadband (UFB), after Crown Fibre Holdings (CFH) c
Key questions about the Government's ultrafast broadband scheme remain unanswered, the Labour Party says.
The Government yesterday announced the first areas that would be part of its rollout of ultra-fast broadband (UFB), after Crown Fibre Holdings (CFH) concluded negotiations with two partner companies, Northpower and Ultra Fast Fibre.
They were Whangarei, Hamilton, Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Tauranga, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Hawera and Tokoroa.
Northpower would begin its rollout in Whangarei before Christmas, while Ultra Fast Fibre was expected to get started next year.
However, Labour's Communications and IT spokesperson Clare Curran said the announcement had failed to give assurances that agreements for the remaining parts of New Zealand would be made before the next election or give an indication of what companies would be involved.
"Today's announcement of two ultrafast broadband partners sheds no light on the bigger issue of who will win the Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch rollouts," Ms Curran said.
Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce said wholesale household prices for the service would start at $40 or less per month for an entry level product and $60 per month for the 100 Megabit product, and that there would be no connection charges for households.
But Ms Curran said there was also an, as yet, undisclosed retail price.
"It is as yet unknown whether most New Zealanders, despite having access to ultrafast broadband, will be able to afford to connect to it," Ms Curran said.
"It's taken the Government two years to come up with this bill following a policy slogan at the last election.
"They've made no major decisions yet about who will roll out fibre, there is still no fibre in the ground and the role of Telecom in the rollout is still the biggest issue. The Government needs to reveal its whole plan and give some certainty to the industry."
