Spark New Zealand welcomes proposed UFB consenting changes

Tuesday, 9 June 2015, 1:31 pm
Press Release: Spark NZ

9 June 2015

Spark New Zealand welcomes proposed UFB consenting changes

The process for getting connected to Ultrafast Fibre Broadband (UFB) network will become a lot less painful if recommendations to speed up the consenting process for installs are enacted.

“This is a difficult technical issue and Minister Adams should be congratulated for helping to get fibre uptake moving,” says Spark New Zealand General Manager Product and Service Delivery Lindsay Cowley.

“Spark New Zealand is fully supportive of the Government’s UFB programme and any moves to help speed up and simplify the processes for connecting our customers to the fibre network.

“The proposed changes would make it easier for thousands of New Zealanders to easily connect to ultra-fast fibre broadband. Our analysis shows that approximately 1-in-8 customers has to go through a consent process to connect to fibre and many simply give up when the hassle becomes too much.”

Spark launched its range of Ultra Fibre products in March 2013 and is the only provider offering fibre products on a nationwide basis. Spark is also the largest provider of fibre connections and has been working with Chorus and the other Local Fibre Companies to make it as easy as possible to connect to the network.

“We are concerned that connections are taking too long, costs can escalate and drop-off rates can double when a customer has to go through the consenting process. The move toward allowing a more permissive consenting regime in cases of right-of-ways and multi-unit-dwellings is a pragmatic solution to this problem.

“Unfortunately we’re currently faced with instances where people want to sign up for fibre, but can’t do so because of problems getting what should be relatively straight-forward agreements to install the cable. Given the enormous task of building the new fibre network and getting people to move on from their copper connection, the consent process for connecting should really be as easy as possible.

“Spark New Zealand is investing in the kind of things that get people to fibre, such as Lightbox internet TV, the ability to deliver HD, cloud computing for business and smart living solutions. Fibre is extremely important to our country’s future. That’s why it should be as easy as possible for our customers to connect,” says Mr Cowley.

ENDS

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