UFF uptake on the increase

Latest government figures on the uptake of ultra-fast broadband throughout New Zealand show people in Ultrafast Fibre (UFF) areas are more likely to be connected than the rest of the country.

Tauranga and Hamilton, both UFF areas, are the two most connected parts of New Zealand. Figures produced by the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) show that the average uptake across the country at 40.4 per cent while the average UFF uptake was 45.6 per cent in December last year. Tauranga was at 48.5 per cent and Hamilton 47.1 per cent in MBIE’s end December quarter statistics and both cities have since gone beyond 50% by the end of February.

UFF CEO, William Hamilton, says while the level of uptake is solid, it is even more encouraging with the latest 2018 UFF figures showing the uptake has grown further to around a 47.3 per cent average.

“Obviously we would like to see uptake even higher for what is world-class technology, and we are constantly working towards seeing more people connected,” he says. UFF is predicting it will hit 100,000 connections later in the year.

MBIE broadband data predicts that 87 per cent of New Zealanders will have access to fibre by the end of 2022. By this time 100 per cent of people living in the UFF network (as it currently stands) will be able to connect.

The UFF network represents around 13 per cent of the national ultra-fast broadband network.

ENDS

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