Getting the lowdown on UFB

Many of the 125 or so attendees at last month's Ultrafast Broadband (UFB) Get-together have commented they have already made contact with organisations who provide products which UFB availability makes possible or enhances.

The most often quoted example is the massive reduction in phone costs which VoIP (Voice over internet Protocol) delivers. By contacting these organisations, potential users can utilise products like VoIP as soon as connection to the UFB fibre can be made.

The Wanganui District Council's Economic Development Group had the foresight to arrange for a video of the presentation to be made that will be available on the council's website soon. Many examples of the opportunities UFB availability makes possible have been described in detail in the Wanganui Chronicle and Midweek. These can be accessed on www.ultrafastbroadband.co.nz by clicking on "Coverage Areas" then "Wanganui" then "Media."

However, some comments have been made that many of the simple questions relating to UFB were not answered in either these columns or during the UFB Get-together. This column is devoted to answering the most frequently asked questions.

What is Ultrafast Broadband?

The Government's UFB initiative will see 75per cent of New Zealanders able to access transmission speeds of 100MB per second or more by 2020. Copper broadband speeds start at 2MB per second, while Dial Up speed is only 50KB per second.

Why optical fibre instead of copper?

Compared to copper, optical fibre is cheaper, has a higher carrying capacity, there is less signal degradation, and it is ideally suited to carrying the digital information increasingly being transmitted in our digital world.

Unlike electrical signals in copper wires, optical fibres carry light signals which do not interfere with the signals carried by other fibres in the same cable.

How will each organisation connect to UFB fibre?

To complete the Government's $35 million Wanganui UFB contract, 118 green "cabinets," each connected to the UFB fibre will need to be installed, and from each of these cabinets 80 to 120 "tubes" will be installed to individual sections. Should a customer decide to connect to UFB, individual fibre cables will be blown from the nearest cabinet through one of these tubes to their premises.

What progress has been made to date in installing the UFB fibre and cabinets?

An estimated 115km of trenching and aerial deployment is required for the project, and to date around 15km has been installed which almost completes the CBD area. Nine cabinets have already been completed in the CBD, and after Christmas the installation contractors, Transfield Services expect to ramp up cabinet installation rates to four per month

When will the deployment of UFB fibre be completed?

The website www.ultrafastbroadband.co.nz details two maps which detail the areas in which fibre is to be deployed and the planned installation dates. Transfield Services are currently on track to meet these dates.

When will my organisation be able to connect to the UFB fibre

Ultrafast Broadband Limited are not in a position to advise connection dates, but watch the above website and this column, where details will be published as soon as they are available.

What will my organisation have to pay to connect to UFB fibre?

A number of organisations are currently negotiating with Ultrafast Broadband Limited to become Wanganui Retail Service Providers (RSPs), but to date none have published their UFB prices. Many of these potential RSPs are currently offering what their sales people refer to as "great value broadband contracts" - but these are copper broadband contracts. It is suggested to all potential users that they do not sign any long term broadband contracts until UFB prices are published. Instead, they should simply agree month to month contracts with them.

Article contributed by the Wanganui Employers Chamber of Commerce UFB Business Strategy Group. To suggest initiatives which you believe should be considered for inclusion in the group's Strategic Plan, or to contact the group, drop an email to john.patty@xtra.co.nz