More fibre optic cables being laid in New Zealand, figures show

Date: 29/10/2010

The number of new fibre cables being laid across New Zealand has overtaken the amount of traditional copper cabling for the first time, it has been reported. 

Forming part of ongoing efforts to get most parts of both the North and South Islands connected to high-speed broadband internet, Chorus, which is the network arm of Telecom, has announced that it has now laid some 26,000km of fibre cables.

While this pales in comparison to the 130,000km of copper cables already in place under New Zealand soil, the National Business Review has reported that new fibre cables now dominate the company's work moving forward.

Specifically, it is anticipated that 2,000km of new fibre cables will be laid this year alone, meaning this will be the first time Chorus has laid more fibre than copper cabling.

"It's a clear sign of the rapid transition that's occurring in telecommunications technology and we expect to cover the length of the country again this year with the amount of fibre we're laying," head of field services at Chorus, Ed Beetle, told the publication.

Meanwhile, the New Zealand Regional Fibre Group has predicted that 40,000 rural households across the country could benefit from cheaper internet connections through the government's $300 million Rural Broadband Initiative.  

Posted by Ronnie Gray