The new fibre optic network will enable the company to deliver a world-class open access broadband infrastructure to the businesses and community of Christchurch.
Enable Networks Chief Executive Steve Fuller says it’s a truly exciting time for the company.
“We are all very excited to be a part of something so important to our city. Our key objective is to be able to provide the fastest, most innovative, business and community enabling network that Christchurch has ever experienced,” he says.
Enable Networks has already invested $15 million to lay more than 100 kilometres of ultra fast fibre optic cable in Christchurch, which many organsiations are already using.
The company uses world-leading technology laid under the streets of Christchurch to deliver the first ‘open access’ fibre optic network infrastructure in Christchurch. The network connects directly to businesses, community organisations and technology service providers to transmit data at virtually
unlimited speed.
Enable Networks is currently available to 50 per cent of small to large businesses in Christchurch, but the $36 million investment will expand the service to over 85 per cent of businesses in the city over the next two years. Steve Fuller says this will be a very attractive prospect for local businesses.
“We are very confident in the Christchurch market and we believe this new unconstrained broadband network will make Christchurch the perfect location for business. It will save businesses money by providing all their services, such as internet, phone and IT, over a single fibre optic connection,” he says.
“The technology gives businesses more choice by giving them a greater range of providers of IT and communications services to choose from. Some companies are choosing where to locate their businesses based on where fibre optic cabling is available - now that’s exciting for our company.”
Enable Networks’ investment in fibre optic cabling is in line with the government’s commitment of making ultra fast broadband available to 75 per cent of New Zealanders where they live, work and study over the next ten years.
The investment will see the network extended to all schools within Christchurch in the next 2-3 years. Enable Networks already has a number of schools connected to the network with many more now lining up to connect.
“Christchurch schools will be able to access a virtual network where they can communicate with each other, share administrative services, create virtual classrooms and pool scarce IT resources. This will truly transform the way our schools operate for our kids, our future generation,” says Steve Fuller.
The $36 million investment will also provide connection capability to more than 90 per cent of major health entities in Christchurch, including all the major hospitals. Four Christchurch hospitals are already connected along with many other health organisations.
Enable Networks’ latest investment will also have a positive impact on the wider Christchurch community by creating more than 50 jobs. Its investment in the infrastructure in Christchurch is long term and positions Christchurch well for the future.
The fibres are laid in protective ducts around one metre underground. Fibre optic cables are then fed into the ducts using ‘fibre blowing technology’. Up to one thousand fibres can be ‘blown’ into each duct. The technology is very durable and will service our city for 50-100 years.
