As part the Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI), we have subsidised charges for fibre new connections in RBI areas, based on certain location and density criteria. This programme which was recognised on the world stage for delivering social impact is now complete. 

Last year we provided 12-months’ notice of our intent to withdraw all subsidised fibre build charges under the RBI scheme for new connections. This withdrawal comes into effect on Thursday, 18 March 2021.

Delivering social impact
 

Our priority for RBI was getting fibre to rural schools, medical facilities, mobile cell sites and some libraries followed by rural businesses and homes. As part of the RBI program we installed or upgraded 1,200 cabinets with fibre backhaul and modem equipment to deliver improved fixed line broadband access to around 57% of rural New Zealand.

Thanks to this programme, 110,000 households and businesses got access to faster broadband. Before the RBI work commenced, residents and businesses in these rural areas could generally only access broadband speeds of between 1~5Mbps. At the completion of the program, the average speed in these areas was about 10 Mbps with some as high as 100Mbps.

The programme, in partnership with Network for Learning, also delivered fibre broadband to 1,000 rural schools, ensuring that students now have access to the same opportunities as their urban counterparts.

The details 

The withdrawal of the RBI fibre build subsidy comes into effect on 18 March 2021.

All fibre requests to sites outside of Chorus UFB candidate areas are now (as from 18 March 2021) treated on a Price on Application basis. The discounts or subsidies that used to be granted under the RBI contract are no longer applicable.

Contact

For any queries, please get in touch with your Account or Service Delivery Manager.