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- Release Date: 15/05/13 10:36
- Summary: GENERAL: CNU: Chorus launches mass market VDSL as step towards fibre
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CNU
15/05/2013 08:36
GENERAL
REL: 0836 HRS Chorus Limited (NS)
GENERAL: CNU: Chorus launches mass market VDSL as step towards fibre
MEDIA RELEASE
15 May 2013
Chorus launches mass market VDSL product as step towards fibre
Chorus has today announced new pricing and specifications for a VDSL-based
broadband product.
VDSL is a broadband technology on the existing copper network that can
provide much faster download and upload speeds than existing ADSL2+
technology.
Following extensive consultation with the industry, Chorus VDSL will be
offered from June 7 2013 as part of the BUBA product family under the UBA
Standard Terms Determination, aligning its pricing with the current EUBA
wholesale price. The Retail Service Providers (RSPs) will take this wholesale
input price and develop their own plans and pricing to market VDSL to end
users.
"Supporting the RSPs to offer their customers much faster broadband speeds
today is an important stepping stone towards the fibre future," said Victoria
Crone, GM Sales and Marketing, Chorus.
"The new Chorus VDSL product will provide more New Zealanders with the
opportunity to enjoy higher speed connections, and also make New Zealand a
more attractive market for the development and deployment of high bandwidth
applications that will drive us towards the fibre future," said Victoria.
"The industry experience is that better broadband stimulates demand for even
greater speed and bandwidth, so we're confident that the better broadband
experience offered by Chorus VDSL will encourage migration to fibre's
superior service as it becomes available.
"In some areas fibre will not be available until 2019, so in those regions
Chorus VDSL provides an important interim step. It will also provide many end
users in areas that are not currently included in the Ultra-fast Broadband
(UFB) initiative with the opportunity to enjoy faster speeds," she said.
VDSL speeds and availability
Speeds will vary depending on distance from Chorus' broadband equipment in
the exchange or cabinet. About two-thirds (or 1.2 million) of Chorus' lines
are within reach of VDSL capability of 20Mbps or greater.
"VDSL technology also has significant potential in rural areas, and is a
natural complement to the Rural Broadband Initiative, because about 55% of
the 400,000 premises outside of UFB areas will be within reach of Chorus VDSL
at the end of the Rural Broadband Initiative roll out," said Victoria.
End users should contact their RSPs to ascertain availability of VDSL
broadband at their properties.
Chorus currently has around 3000 end users on VDSL technology.
Migration to fibre
Chorus will offer VDSL in all regions until mid-2015, and stop selling it
progressively as the fibre roll-out is completed in areas where Chorus was
selected for UFB.
"Fibre is the superior technology and we are clear that VDSL is a stepping
stone to fibre. As such, we are offering VDSL in Chorus UFB areas in the
interim, but will not sell any new VDSL connections once our fibre build is
complete in Chorus regions," she said.
Chorus may also review the ongoing provision of VDSL if its continued
availability affects fibre uptake in Chorus' UFB areas.
ENDS
For further information:
Ian Bonnar
Corporate Affairs Manager
Phone: +64 9 358 6061
Mobile: +64 (27) 215 7564
Email: [email protected]
Brett Jackson
Investor Relations Manager
Phone: +64 4 498 9271
Mobile: +64 (27) 488 7808
Email: [email protected]
End CA:00236230 For:CNU Type:GENERAL Time:2013-05-15 08:36:31
