Test of 10 gigabit ultrafast broadband to begin in March

Monday, 4 February 2019

The ultrafast broadband network is about to get a lot of extra lanes, though in practice existing traffic may not be able to travel much faster.

Consumer ultrafast broadband plans that are 10 times faster than the quickest residential plans available today are in the pipeline.

Network company Chorus hopes to recruit 30 consumers and some small businesses to trial a UFB service with 10 gigabit download and upload speeds.

The trials will take place in the Auckland suburbs of Avondale and Birkenhead, and in Johnsonville, Wellington, in March.

Vocus, the country's third-largest internet provider, and smaller providers including 2degrees, Stuff Fibre and Trustpower have signed up for the trial with others 'expressing keen' interest, Chorus said.

* Gigabit broadband now the goal

Chorus says trials of 10Gbit broadband will 'reinforce' its ability to upgrade its network.

* Refreshing Gigatown results**

Vodafone spokeswoman Kathy Gieck said it was also in the process of signing up.

Uncapped UFB plans offering download speeds of just under a gigabit and upload speeds of 500Mbps are widely available from a range of internet providers from just under $100 a month and upwards.

Telecommunications Users Association chief executive Craig Young doubted consumers would see much difference from a 10Gbps service now.

'There aren't the applications or the requirements for that kind of speed for consumers, maybe for small businesses.'

But it was still good consumer trials were being planned, he said.

'We don't know what developments might happen in the next 12 months and we want Chorus and other fibre companies to continue to innovate.

'I'd rather they were trialling it now so by the time we actually need it, it is ready to go.'

Chorus chief customer officer Ed Hyde said the trial would use equipment from Nokia and would see New Zealanders accessing 'one of the fastest broadband services available on the planet'.

But he appeared to indicate the trial was also aimed at making point about Chorus' ability to avoid being leapfrogged.

'It also reinforces the ability to easily upgrade the world-class fibre infrastructure we have been building as the latest technologies become available,' he said.

Consumers keen on trialling the 10Gbps service would need to own a computer or device with a 10Gbit ethernet port and be willing to provide feedback to Chorus on their experience with the service.