Endless possibilities for broadband

The possibilities for ultra-fast broadband are endless, according to the new head of the company responsible for installing the technology in Wanganui.

Maxine Elliott took over as chief executive of Ultrafast Broadband in September 2011, and her enthusiasm for the state of the art technology is obvious.

Ms Elliott was in Wanganui last week to meet with the Wanganui District Council and speak to the Wanganui digital leaders forum.

Wanganui is one of the first towns in New Zealand to receive the Government-funded ultra-fast broadband roll out, along with the South Taranaki town of Hawera, Hamilton, Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Tauranga, Tokoroa and New Plymouth.

Work on the five-year Wanganui project began in January and Ms Elliott said so far 20km of the final 360km had been laid.

The first stage will be completed in July.

"That's also the time that Wanganui businesses will be able to start using the new network," Ms Elliott said.

She said the fibre currently being laid, which is thinner than a single human hair, would deliver noticeably faster broadband than was currently available, for a similar price.

"We're talking super-high speed. It starts from 30MB per second and goes up from there.

"There's no limit on top speed, other than the limitations of the electronics."

Ms Elliott said multiple users in a neighbourhood would not slow the ultra-fast broadband down, as is currently the case.

But Ms Elliott said fast broadband was only the beginning.

"We can't even imagine what some of the potential future uses for this fibre might be, particularly for entertainment options."

She said telephone, broadband, and entertainment packages such as Sky could all be delivered through the fibre.

Ms Elliott said support for the fibre was high in Wanganui, and her sense was people were keen for it to be up and running.

She praised the Wanganui District Council for its role in bringing ultra-fast broadband to Wanganui.

"We have a close relationship, a good relationship, with the council. It's been very positive," she said.

The Wanganui project is estimated to cost $35 million, while the nationwide roll-out is costing the Government $1.3 billion.

Towards a faster future: B6