The New Zealand government has shortlisted three of the five Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) proposals submitted in mid-November, according to local reports.
The proposals selected are Torotoro Waea, FX Networks/OpenGate and Telecom New Zealand/Vodafone…
The New Zealand government has shortlisted three of the five Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) proposals submitted in mid-November, according to local reports.
The proposals selected are Torotoro Waea, FX Networks/OpenGate and Telecom New Zealand/Vodafone New Zealand.
“The companies say their proposal, based on a collaborative, open-access approach, would ensure the fastest possible start and would result in more infrastructure, choice of technology and services, and competition for rural New Zealanders,” incumbent Telecom NZ explained in statement.
The RBI aims to provide fibre to 97% of rural schools and a minimum 5Mbps broadband service to 80% of rural households within six years.
Vodafone and Telecom NZ said they would invest in their own networks to expand their fibre and wireless infrastructures to those areas. The bid process is run by the Ministry of Economic Development for the RBI, with a decision expected by Christmas.
In a separate report, Telecom NZ is urging state-owned Crown Fibre Holdings (CFH) to announce its partners in the Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) project soon. The initiative aims to supply high speed internet through fibre to 75% of New Zealand homes over ten years.
In early September, it was revealed that the incumbent was not among the list of companies selected for priority talks around the government’s $NZ1.5bn (about US$1bn) UFB project. Telecom is nonetheless still on the list of 14 companies that remain important contenders for future negotiations.
