Published 09/06/2015

Chorus has today announced it has finished building its Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) network in Timaru, meaning more than 14,000 households, businesses, schools and health facilities now have access to fibre.

Chorus today joined Communications Minister Amy Adams and Rangitata MP Jo Goodhew for an event at Mt Cook Alpine Salmon, which is already benefiting from UFB, to celebrate the completion of the project in Timaru.

Timaru is the fifth town in New Zealand to have its fibre network completed under Chorus' UFB programme.

"Timaru is an outstanding example of how a community can come together and make the most of an incredible technology like fibre," Chorus General Manager of Infrastructure Ed Beattie says.

"Throughout Chorus' Gigatown competition, there was strong community engagement in Timaru about the potential economic and social benefits of UFB which has really laid the foundation to ensure the community can unlock these benefits.

"And we're now starting to see the results of this engagement, with Timaru having the second highest uptake rate in New Zealand among the areas where Chorus is rolling out UFB.

"Timaru businesses using fibre are experiencing seamless cloud computing, they're sending large images and files, conducting meetings over smooth HD video conferencing and hosting multiple users and devices, all on the same Internet connection."

Mt Cook Alpine Salmon is one such business benefiting from UFB. The vertically-integrated business has operations in Tekapo, Twizel, Queenstown and Timaru, and staff scattered further afield at locations including Nelson and Auckland.

It opened a new processing plant in Timaru in November, 2013 which is now the data hub for the organisation.

Timaru-based Vetta Technologies installed UFB to manage Mt Cook Alpine Salmon's network - providing high speed communications across the company, accessible across the company.

Mt Cook Alpine Salmon chief executive David Cole says the company's server stores everything from accounting and customer relationship management systems to the data off the line from the processing plant.

"The data collected is production information from raw material reception, through processing, packing, bar coding and final dispatch. The system allows for live tracking of production speeds and quantities, meaning there is full traceability from the farm to the end user.

"Alongside faster access to our IT system, we have also implemented a voice over IP phone system, giving us complete control and flexibility over the digital communications, helping to deliver efficiency and cost savings across the business.

"UFB has also meant improved access to our Timaru server, with the frustration from dropouts for remote access now being a thing of the past."

Chorus is building about 70 per cent of the UFB network in a public-private partnership with the Government.

Chorus has 24 areas around New Zealand where it is deploying the UFB network. All up, Chorus' UFB network will run past more than 830,000 homes, businesses, schools and health facilities throughout the country by the end of 2019.

For further information:

Nathan Beaumont
Stakeholder Communications Manager
Mobile: 021 243 8412
Email: Nathan.beaumont@chorus.co.nz

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