Northland memorandum signed for world-class broadband

The first steps have been taken towards possible development of a multimillion dollar publicly-owned broadband network tailor-made for the Northland region.

The Northland Regional Council and broadcast and telecommunications company Kordia™ have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) as the first step towards scoping, developing, building and operating a fibre optic-based telecommunications infrastructure in Northland.

Kordia™ Chairman (and Far North Mayor) Wayne Brown and Regional Council Chairman Mark Farnsworth agree that while plans are at an early stage, the MOU is a significant step to ultimately securing much-needed improvements to the region’s telecommunications network.

“Regional initiatives, like this one in Northland, are being developed to promote regional economic transformation. Broadband investment is seen as a priority by our owners, so this is a perfect fit for us,” says Mr Brown.

“Delivering world-class broadband for all New Zealanders is a key driver right now. We are looking at ways to grow our business that will benefit the wider economy, and collaboration with Regional Councils is one way of delivering critical services into provincial New Zealand,” he says.

Mr Farnsworth says that the collaboration with Kordia™ will look at building a regional network that starts where the current telecommunications networks stop.

“Whilst the NRC will lead the project, we will work in conjunction with other Councils, lines companies, iwi and other local stakeholders to deliver a wholesale, open-access operating model that has competition at the service layer,” he says.

“Both parties are keen to see broadband accessible to as many Northland businesses and consumers as possible, and to do that, we’ll be looking for some large foundation customers to help get the ball rolling.”

Provided the business case stacks up financially and logistically, the two parties hope to see a publicly-owned/controlled, commercially successful open access network offering infrastructure to a range of service providers within the next two to three years.

The network investment would initially focus on deploying a fibre optic backbone linking Northland communities, with local access solutions provided to Northland people and businesses by a range of public and private sector providers. Profits would be used to expand the network’s reach so that it could eventually service virtually the entire region – with a particular focus on its rural communities.

The MOU is designed to run for a year and will see the two parties collaborating actively on scoping the initiative, including a feasibility study that will help shape the business case for the project. Business and community groups from throughout the region are already engaged in demand profiling working parties.
 

Background information on Kordia™:

Kordia™ operates and maintains an impressive network of broadcasting and telecommunications transmission infrastructure across New Zealand and Australia, and provides other broadcast, telecommunications and converged services throughout the Australasian region. In March, Kordia™ renewed its focus on the rural community and wholesaling wireless broadband services (for resale through a range of providers including Orcon). In April, Kordia™ announced an MOU with PIPE Networks to investigate building a second, private trans-Tasman fibre-optic submarine cable that will increase international capacity and competition in the New Zealand.