Northpower connects with Australian fibre network leaders

Northpower connects with Australian fibre network leaders

Northpower’s growing stature in fibre networks has culminated in a visit this week from the Australian Government Select Committee on the Australian National Broadband Network (NBN).

The delegation, led by Robert Oakeshott MP, is in New Zealand this week to learn more about New Zealand’s Ultra-Fast Broadband initiative. The group comprises eight senior Australian Federal Politicians.

Northpower, which is building the Whangarei UFB network in partnership with the New Zealand Government, was one of the first stops for the committee.

Australia is currently underway with a multi-billion dollar fibre network build and the committee wants to know about the mix of technologies being used in New Zealand, along with the practical experience of the rollout and the impact on communities.

Northpower Network General Manager, Graham Dawson, who steered the company’s fibre network build in 2007, gave an in-depth overview of Northpower’s innovative approach to the group and says it is pleasing to be targeted by the NBN.

“Northpower, right from the outset and prior to the Government UFB project built its fibre network to compete with copper. This innovation was significant and was required to reduce the build cost to enable faster construction. It was of particular interest to the committee.

“The beauty of Northpower’s fibre build is that we will have the Whangarei network completed at least two years before any other UFB fibre network in New Zealand, so we will have a highly experienced resource pool available for other opportunities,” says Mr Dawson.

He believes there is a strong possibility that Northpower will complete the Whangarei UFB build ahead of the contracted June 2014 deadline.

“Separate to that, Northpower has significant fibre and communications capability in Auckland so we clearly have the resources to take on more work locally or internationally. We have proven that fibre networks can be built cost effectively and compete with copper and I hope that is of appeal to the likes of the NBN.”

Northpower’s General Manager of Business Development, Sean Horgan, says with the base the company has within the Australian electricity sector, expanding into the Australian fibre market would be a good strategic move.

“We are already well established in Australia and we are working successfully with some of the biggest electricity companies there, so it makes sense to look closely at fibre network design and builds if the opportunity arises and the numbers stack up,” says Mr Horgan.

“Hosting this delegation is testimony to the hard work of so many people within our fibre business, as it is their innovative approach which has earned us a reputation resulting in visits like this.”

“It was great to have the opportunity to discuss our fibre expertise with some of the key individuals behind an infrastructure build as massive as the Australian NBN network,” says Mr Horgan.

ENDS

© Scoop Media