Businesses and homeowners in central Oamaru are expected to have access to ultrafast broadband in a matter of weeks, after communication company Chorus finished installing fibreoptic cables in the central business district.
The cables for the area between South Hill and Wilson Park in the north end are in place. A Chorus spokesman said although it was ''difficult'' to estimate a potential take-up rate, customers could talk to retail service providers about fibre services as early as today.
''We are now in the final testing phase and within coming weeks, telecommunication retail service providers will be in a position to offer services to end users.''
A total of 14km of fibreoptic cable would have been laid in the town by the end of the three-stage project in June 2015.
However, although the western side of Perth St was included in stage one, residents on the eastern half of the street, along with those in Avon, Tamar and Selwyn streets, will have to wait another two years to access fibre services, because those areas are included in the final stage.
Business Development Oamaru chairman Lance Streeter said the initial demand from businesses would probably be ''very limited''. He expected the town would ''grow into it'' over time.
''It might not affect a lot of businesses at the moment, but when they realise they need more, they will have exactly what they need.''
