Bringing Fibre Across New Zealand’s Southern Alps

Some of New Zealand’s most remote communities now have access to ultrafast broadband following Ventia’s recent completion of the 118km Te Anau to Milford build and fibre haul project on south-west of New Zealand’s South Island

The completion marks the culmination of two of Ventia’s most challenging projects for Chorus, one of New Zealand’s largest telecommunications infrastructure providers. Ventia completed the second project, a 122km build and fibre haul from Hawea to Haast, in March 2022.

Two crucial links funded by the New Zealand Government, the projects connect communities clinging to the narrow coastline between steep peaks of the Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea with the national fibre network, bringing superior connectivity to one of the most remote corners of Aotearoa.

Ventia Project Director Hilton Way said fibre was a game-changer for all New Zealanders, particularly those in small and remote communities.

“Ventia is very proud of our critical role in this transformative project, connecting New Zealanders to best-in-class broadband,” he said.

Delivering to smaller communities in remote locations brought certain challenges, but ensuring these areas now have access to high-speed internet was well worth it.

Dramatic landscapes, even more dramatic weather

Thirty-person teams consisting of Ventia staff, Marais Laying and Telcospec were required to install ducting for the fibre cable along state highways and narrow two-lane roads that crisscross the Southern Alps, often bounded by cliffs, steep slopes, or thick rain forest.

For most of the routes, the team had to build in the road space instead of the more typical and safer soft grass berm on the side of the road. The challenging geology also meant that both teams often used rock saws to create the narrow trench where the duct would run.

Adding to the challenge was the more than 200 bridges, culverts and tunnels between Te Anau and Milford, including the iconic 1.2km long Homer Tunnel.

In a high alpine environment sitting in the path of the infamous Roaring Forties – the strong westerly winds that occur in the Southern Hemisphere – the area is subject to blizzards all year round and some of the world’s heaviest rainfall. Locations are always subject to avalanche risk.

“The weather was a constant factor to consider, not only making the work hard, but sometimes impossible,” Way said.

Most importantly though, the range of extremes puts pressure on the team, so working in a safe and supportive environment was even more important.

The fibre build has been one of the largest and most ambitious civil engineering infrastructure projects ever undertaken in New Zealand. Ventia has been vital in the project since 2009, delivering ultra-fast broadband fibre networks to smaller cities, rural towns and villages.

AT A GLANCE:

• Hawea to Haast – 122km of build and fibre haul
• Te Anau to Milford Sound – 118km build and fibre haul
• 200 plus bridges and culvert crossings to design and build
• Extreme weather conditions: 30C in summer and -3C in winter
• 87% of New Zealanders now have access to fibre-to-the-premises

Video: VENTIA NZ - HAAST Project 2023 (vimeo.com)

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