Chinese investors keen on Pacific Fibre cable

Pacific Fibre is planning fibre-optic lnks to transport data between Auckland. Photo / Thinkstock

The company building New Zealand's second international internet link has attracted the attention of a large Chinese investor after an introduction by Trade Minister Tim Groser.

Pacific Fibre is planning fibre-optic links to transport data between Auckland, Sydney and Los Angeles, but is still gathering capital for the US$400 million project.

The company was part of a New Zealand information and communications technology trade delegation to Shanghai and Hangzhou last week which met operators such as China Mobile and China Telecom.

Chief executive Mark Rushworth said discussions with potential equity investors in China were "very successful".

"There's some strong Chinese interest."

Trade Minister Tim Groser said he supported Pacific Fibre and confirmed he had introduced the company to a Chinese investor with deep pockets - "We are talking serious money here."

Neither man would name the investor.

Rushworth said he hoped to finish capital raising by November.

The news comes after Pacific Fibre announced on Monday it had signed a 10-year contract with Vodafone worth more than $100 million.

The agreement will see Vodafone pay Pacific Fibre to transport internet traffic from New Zealand to Australia and the United States.

Construction of the 12,750km internet pipe is due to begin this year if the money is available.