Ultrafast broadband is coming to Oamaru, with the announcement telecommunications infrastructure company Chorus will break new ground in the town.
The development, to begin in July as part of the second year of the ultrafast broadband (UFB) deployment, will also see Chorus begin building the network in five other towns - Invercargill, Nelson, Queenstown, Timaru and Whakatane.
The fibre network will also be extended in areas where work has already begun, meaning by June 2013, fibre-optic cables would have been delivered past 149,000 premises.
Chorus chief executive Mark Ratcliffe said his company was beginning to build the expected momentum as the UFB expansion moved into its second year.
"Each week, our team lays a further 50km of new fibre-optic cable past homes, schools, major health facilities and businesses." Chorus is publishing its second-year plans and working with Crown Fibre Holdings on the "indicative deployment forecasts" for the full UFB programme, and intends to consult local councils in the next few months.
Year 2 UFB deployment plans for the southern South Island covering the period from July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013 are:Ashburton: Some areas of Tinwald and Allenton.
Dunedin: Central and South Dunedin, some areas of Kenmure and Kaikorai, and the remaining North Dunedin suburbs.
Invercargill: Central Invercargill, Gladstone and the Kew Rd area of Kingswell.
Oamaru: Central Oamaru and some streets in the Perth St and Arun St area.
Queenstown: Central Queenstown area.
Timaru: Washdyke, Smithfield, central Timaru, and some areas across Marchwiel, Gleniti, Westend, Waimataitai and Redruth.
