Unison's fibre hopes for Hawke's Bay improve

Consumer-owned Hawke's Bay power lines company Unison's chances of partnering the Government with its national $1.5 billion ultra fast broadband rollout in the Bay have improved.
The consortium of electricity lines companies that Unison belongs to is the latest party to be selected for prioritised negotiations as part of the Government's ultra fast broadband (UFB) initiative.
The Central Fibre Consortium comprises Unison, Eastland Group, Horizon, Centralines and Counties Power.
Central Fibre was bidding to build urban fibre networks in Napier, Hastings, Taupo, Rotorua, Central Hawkes Bay, Gisborne, Whakatane, Pukekohe, Waiuku, Palmerston North, Feilding and Masterton.
New Zealand Regional Fibre Group chief executive Vaughan Baker said the shortlisting of another member of its group yesterday showed that the Government had confidence in NZRFG delivering on the UFB initiative.
"The local ownership and a regional approach to the projects are keys to the success of the UFB initiative and consumers will welcome the added competition open-access fibre networks will bring," he said.
The areas covered by Central Fibre were among those for which Telecom was selected for prioritised negotiations.
The Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Steven Joyce, said it was good to see a large number of bidders stepping up to the mark.
"This ensures the Crown has competitive options that will deliver the best overall solution for taxpayers and consumers," he said.
In December, the Government confirmed it was partnering Northpower and UltraFast Fibre to roll out ultra fast broadband in Northland and in the central North Island - covering seven of the UFB candidate areas.
Central Fibre chairman Simon Allen said it was great to have his group and Telecom contesting the opportunity to become the Crown's partner for UFB in regional cities.
Fibre would make regional centres more competitive, improve health and education systems, and help local businesses connect to world markets, he said.