Southern expansion for TelstraClear

TelstraClear is extending its fibre network, with a $20 million investment in the lower South Island.

The company will roll out 950km of fibre over the next two years to improve services to 20,000 business customers in Dunedin to Gore, Invercargill, Queenstown and Christchurch.

Chief executive Allan Freeth has repeatedly said the view from the Australian parent Telstra was that New Zealand's regulatory situation was "ugly" and no new major investment would be forthcoming as a result.

TelstraClear spokesman Mathew Bolland said yesterday that attitude was only in regards to large-scale investments.

He said the company had been investing $120 million a year in New Zealand and would continue to do so. Peter Nowak