Quentin Read, branding and communications head Orcon believes it will become the first company to offer independent telecommunications services in Rotorua when it "unbundles" this week.
A change in legislation in 2006 opened up the telecommunications industry by allowing competitors to access local Telecom networks, installing their own equipment in exchanges
to determine their own broadband speeds and services.
Branding and communications head Quentin Reade said Orcon expected to "go live" with its unbundled services in Rotorua this week.
"The law change has allowed competitors to put their own equipment into the exchanges, which allows us to take control of phone lines into people's houses. We can create different products - things we could not do under the old lines."
Reade said this had opened up opportunities for faster broadband speeds and larger data capacities and reduced rates.
"Packages will generally be about $10 a month cheaper because we are working with our own lines instead of paying rental to Telecom. While he said the initial set-up was expensive, Orcon felt there was enough market opportunity in Rotorua to warrant that investment.
The company's unbundling started in Auckland in 2008, where Reade described uptake as "phenomenal".
Since then, the project has been rolled out in Wellington, Tauranga, Hamilton, Dunedin and Palmerston North. "It is not cheap equipment to set up, but it makes sense for us if we can get enough people in Rotorua into our network."
He said the benefits would vary depending on the level and type of the internet use.
Home packages available through Orcon's own equipment are highlighted with a + on the company's website.
