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Chorus representative Amneet Binda-Gill explains the finer points of fibre to Bill Freeth at a public information meeting in Omaha last week.
Fibre broadband will shortly become available in Leigh, Wellsford and Omaha, which telecommunications company Chorus promises will radically improve internet connection speeds in each area.
Data can be conveyed via fibre optic cable at speeds up to 900 megabits per second (Mbps), which compares with about 15Mbps for transmission via conventional copper cables.
For comparison, a 90-minute HD movie might take half-an-hour to completely download using conventional copper cables, but would take only 30 seconds using fibre.
Chorus spokesperson Holly Cushen says it is common for homes to have multiple devices connected at the same time and this is where the performance of fibre shines.
“It’s all about having lots of capacity so that everyone in the household can do what they want to do online at the same time,” she says.
Chorus says fibre broadband plans are no more expensive than conventional broadband plans and, in most cases, getting connected is free.
The planned additional rollout in Mahurangi is part of the Government’s Ultra-Fast Broadband programme, which covers about 1.3 million homes, businesses, schools and medical centres across the country.
Fibre is already available in Warkworth, Snells Beach, Mangawhai, Langs Beach and Waipu Cove.
The next fibre build is due to be complete in Leigh in May, in Wellsford by August and in Omaha in January next year.
Once completed, the rollout in Leigh will allow about 650 homes and businesses to connect to fibre, around 1000 homes and businesses in Wellsford and 1400 homes and businesses in Omaha.
A flyer will be delivered to each affected property explaining how to connect to the new fibre cables.
Ms Cushen says there will be minor disruptions during the laying of cables. Where footpaths are blocked, safe alternative routes will be
made available.
“At this stage we don’t have detailed timings on a street by street level, but all residents will receive a letter dropped in their letterbox from our build contractors prior to the build commencing, outlining when the work will be happening,” she says.
The physical build is already finished in Leigh and the cables are undergoing checks prior to connections being added.
Ms Cushen says the fibre rollout in Point Wells is scheduled for completion next moth, in Matakana by next May and in Mahurangi West by November next year.
Will your house be able to get fibre?
Leigh Fibre Plan
Omaha Fibre Plan
Wellsford Fibre Plan
