Vector is obviously the best company to roll out the government's broadband initiative to greater Auckland, chief executive Simon Mackenzie said when NBR asked whether they were the best option.“Our proposal is to deliver fibre right to the door. Ex
Vector is obviously the best company to roll out the government’s broadband initiative to greater Auckland, chief executive Simon Mackenzie said when NBR asked whether they were the best option.
“Our proposal is to deliver fibre right to the door. Existing broadband services are only drip-feeding New Zealanders. Vector plans to turn the tap on to ensure fibre connections are taken to at least 450,000 premises throughout Auckland.”
Mr Mackenzie confirmed to NBR this afternoon that the company put in a bid to roll out ultra-fast broadband to Auckland and Wellington. “We included an option to deliver broadband to Wellington. But Auckland will be our main focus. We’re a New Zealand company and we have the solution for Aucklanders.
“We have received unbelievable support from councils and businesses," he said.
The company claims it could finish the project in less than seven years, three years under the government’s 10-year target.
Vector has proposed to take its ultra-fast fibre network past 133,000 Auckland premises within two years (including 18,000 businesses), connect 255 Auckland schools and 57 medical facilities within three years and pass 57% of businesses within four years.
Mr Mackenzie said Vector was ready to start working on the project as soon as a commercially acceptable agreement could be reached. “Vector has backed the government’s ultra-fast broadband initiative from day one and we believe that only by operating a truly open access network can there be the level of retail competition, productivity and innovation demanded by the government.
“We are committed to fibre as a long term infrastructure investment. We are also a leading member of the New Zealand Regional Fibre Group and have developed a nationally consistent set of standards to ensure inter-connectivity across all regions.
Vector wants to ensure Auckland is the first city in the country with an ultra-fast fibre broadband network by taking fibre to the door of a third of the population within seven years, Mr McKenzie said.
