Ultra-fast broadband service now on-stream in Ashburton CBD

Ashburton business owners will become increasingly more flexible in the way they operate, says Electricity Ashburton general manager Gordon Guthrie, thanks to the fibre optic broadband network his company has completed in the town’s central business district.

“Our new ultra-fast broadband service enables Ashburton businesses to connect to the rest of the world at speeds far faster than have previously been available. Under construction within the boundaries of Cass Street, Dobson Street, Park Street and Wills Street for the last six months, we are now able to connect business customers within this area to our open access ultra-fast broadband communications network.

“At present, this service will be of greatest benefit to businesses that typically spend more than $500 per month on fixed line telephone and data services. Those businesses should be able to make significant savings by accessing internet calling products, which for many is likely to be the most compelling and immediate of the multiple benefits of connecting to the network.

“Providing that level of communication will enable local businesses to substantially shift their thinking about service, markets and what they offer their customers, whether those customers are here or elsewhere in the world. While the applications of this are seemingly unlimited, I am confident the local business community has the foresight and creativity to take that on board and do things that nobody has even considered in the past, which if done well, will be innovative, exciting and profitable,” he said.

One hundred per cent owned by the local community, co-operative company Electricity Ashburton began developing its fibre optic network in 2008 from its own funds Consisting of approximately 300 kilometres of fibre-optic cable throughout Mid Canterbury, with current technology the fibre-optic network now operates at speeds up to 1Gbps, at least 200 times what is generally the fastest speed presently available.

Electricity Ashburton operates its service as open access network infrastructure, making it available to any service providers on equal terms. Users might include telecommunications companies, internet service providers (ISPs), IT companies, individual companies and community organisations. Business and residential users of the network will typically use the service via one or more of a range of ISPs.

Gordon Guthrie said Electricity Ashburton is in communication with Telecom’s network arm, Chorus, which has secured a taxpayer-funded contract to construct a broadband network through most of the country, including Ashburton, under the government’s ultra fast broadband initiative (UFBI).

“Electricity Ashburton applied for UFBI funding, and while it was disappointing that our application was unsuccessful, it is of greater concern that Chorus, using taxpayer funds, may end up duplicating the Ashburton network that we have only just completed in the CBD. We would be deeply disappointed if the government, during a time of fiscal prudence, allowed this to happen. We have an open network, providing competitive access pricing. It would make no sense at all for the taxpayer, via Chorus, to build on top of our network, which the people of Mid Canterbury already own through the co-operative,” he said.

Businesses in the Ashburton CBD who are interested in using the fibre optic broadband network should visit Electricity Ashburton’s website for more information or contact the company directly.

ENDS

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