$300m expansion will bring UFB to 85pc of the country, but is it enough? Another 423,000 people will be able get ultrafast broadband (UFB) by the end of 2024 as a result of a long-awaited decision to expand the network. Prime Minister Bill English said UFB would be extended to more than 151 additional towns, on top of the 33 cities that are already getting the service. "If I was living in one of the 151 towns I would momentarily feel pleased but then I'd look at the timeline – six years." The four existing UFB network companies, Chorus, Enable, Ultrafast Fibre and Northpower will pick up the job of building out the network, with Chorus getting the bulk of the work.

Source: Stuff January 25, 2017 22:27 UTC