85 percent of connectivity completed with 110 UFB cities and towns

“That’s an increase in UFB coverage that’s equivalent to a city the size of Wellington and brings the total number of households and businesses able to connect to UFB to 1,576,189,” the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications, and Digital Media Minister Kris Faafoi said.

The latest Quarterly Connectivity Report shows more than 90,000 households and businesses gained access to Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) in the three months from April to June this year.

"That's an increase in UFB coverage that's equivalent to a city the size of Wellington and brings the total number of households and businesses able to connect to UFB to 1,576,189," the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications, and Digital Media Minister Kris Faafoi said.

"With 110 UFB cities and towns now complete, the build is now 85 percent finished and still ahead of schedule.

On completion of the program in 2022, there will be over 1.8 million homes and businesses in New Zealand with access to UFB," Minister Faafoi said.

In the latest quarter, there were 55,336 new connections to UFB, lifting overall uptake to 52 percent.

"There is also an impressive number of towns with uptake over 60 percent, like Waiuku and Hamilton with 64 percent uptake and Whatawhata and Tauranga close behind with 63 percent, Mr. Faafoi said.

Broadband coverage in rural areas has also increased. There are now approximately 38,000 households and businesses in hard to reach regions of New Zealand which now have access to improved broadband.

"It's particularly pleasing that the smaller Wireless Internet Service Providers improved broadband coverage to approximately 1,500 rural households and businesses in the June quarter.

"We have heard a consistent message that rural New Zealand needs better and more widespread mobile coverage to support rural business growth, the farming and tourism sectors, and rural safety.

"I look forward to seeing mobile, fixed wireless broadband, and 'internet of things' coverage extend further into rural New Zealand with all the benefits these will bring.

"The increased investment into the regions shows our commitment to closing the digital divide to ensure all New Zealanders who want it, have connectivity," he said," Mr. Faafoi said

The Rural Broadband Initiative program (RBI2) has provided 38,662 rural homes and businesses with access to improved broadband. That is enabling, amongst other things, better online farm management, improvement in farm security in isolated areas, and better education access for rural students.

The Mobile Black Spots (MBSF) program provides mobile coverage to improve safety on state highways and enhance the visitor experience at key tourist destinations.

There are now 26 tourism sites and 238 kilometers of state highway which have improved coverage from all three mobile operators.

When work on RBI2 and MBSF is completed by 2023 and combined with the completion of the UFB roll-out, New Zealand will have broadband coverage to 99.8 percent of the population.

"Being connected has become an essential part of our everyday lives.

"The availability of improved broadband and mobile coverage can make a huge difference for urban and rural households alike, for businesses across our regions, and for safety on our state highways.

The Quarterly Connectivity Report is released by Crown Infrastructure Partners (CIP).

The report provides information on the progress of the Government-backed connectivity programs, which are:

Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) roll-out

Phase Two of the Rural Broadband Initiative and Mobile Black Spots Fund (RBI2/MBSF) program

Provincial Growth Fund marae digital connectivity program

(With Inputs from New Zealand Government Press Release)