Central Fibre progresses in Government Fibre bid process

Central Fibre has welcomed the announcement by Crown Fibre Holdings (CFH) today that the consortium has been selected for priority negotiations for the Government’s ultra fast broadband initiative.

The consortium comprises Unison, Eastland Group, Horizon Energy, Centralines and Counties Power and is bidding to build urban fibre networks in Napier, Hastings, Taupo, Rotorua, Central Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne, Whakatane, Pukekohe, Waiuku, Palmerston North, Feilding and Masterton.

Unison Group Chief Executive Ken Sutherland today said the Central Fibre consortium had continued to negotiate key commercial principles with CFH and was now in a position to undertake further negotiations regarding contractual terms and conditions for UnisonFibre and its consortium partners to rollout fibre to the Central North Island Region.

“Ultra fast broadband is a major initiative for the country and is particularly important to regional New Zealand.  We want to get it right.  We have supported this initiative from day one and have consistently said that UnisonFibre would continue to participate as long as it makes commercial sense.

“Central Fibre's proposal to the Government is to deliver fibre to the door of all urban areas in our network regions including Hawke’s Bay, Taupo and Rotorua within seven years.

“Central Fibre’s members can build a world-class fibre network quickly with UnisonFibre extending their multiple cities deployment and Counties Power expanding the fibre build that they commenced in 2003.  We are ready to start as soon as these negotiations are concluded,” said Mr Sutherland.

Central Fibre continues to work closely with the New Zealand Regional Fibre Group to develop aligned and unified local solutions for New Zealanders to deliver the "step change" that Kiwis expect from this initiative, said Mr Sutherland.
 

For more information please contact Unison’s Customer Relations Manager, Danny Gough, on (06) 873 9361 or 021 739 461.
 

Go back to news items