Chorus Launches Nationwide 1-Gbps Broadband

 

Chorus on Friday announced it will offer nationwide wholesale 1-Gbps broadband from the start of October.

 

The New Zealand network operator has offered gigabit broadband to residents in Dunedin since February 2015, and has long had plans to extend the service across the country.

 

"Making New Zealand a true 'Gignation', beyond the 5,000-plus connections we have in Dunedin, should see us catapulted up the league tables of broadband speed rankings," said Mark Ratcliffe, CEO of Chorus, in a statement.

 

At the moment, the average download speed across Chorus' network is 30.5 Mbps. Once Gigabit services become available, Chorus expects end users to see real-world download speeds of 900 Mbps-970 Mbps, and upload speeds of up to 500 Mbps.

 

Chorus will make its Gigabit service available to retail ISPs at an introductory price of NZ$60 (€39) per month, rising to NZ$65 per month from July 2017. ISPs supplying businesses will pay NZ$75 per month.

 

Chorus has a longstanding contract with Crown Fibre Holdings – which is managing the New Zealand government's investments in broadband infrastructure – to roll out ultrafast broadband to 69% of the population.

 

Chorus said it is in talks with Crown Fibre for the latter's approval of its Gigabit prices; if approval is not obtained by the end of September, Chorus' 1-Gbps service will launch on a trial basis.