Latest UFB connection numbers - still a case of many passed, few signed up
PLUS - RAW DATA: Latest UFB and RBI rollout stats.
PLUS - RAW DATA: Latest UFB and RBI rollout stats.
The lastest UFB connection numbers released by ICT Minister Amy Adams paint a familiar picture: UFB fibre continues to be rolled out at pace under the 10-year rollout - but few are taking advantage of the opportunity to connect.
The latest quarterly report on the now two-year-old rollout, says 229,633 premises (and an estimated 301,328 users) are now able to connected by June 30, but just 9984 (or 3%) have signed on to a fibre broadband plan so far.
The connected rate is the same as the Minister's previous quarterly report. In the interim, Telecom (with around 50% retail broadband market share) launched UFB plans, leaving Vodafone (with around 29% market share) as the only major retail ISP yet to enter the fray. However, Telecom was only weeks into its launch at the time the latest data was collected (for the three months to June 30).
The government, again, does not go into detail about the number of businesses and schools have actually signed up and are using UFB fibre, nor detail the number who have signed up to plans under the $300 million, six-year Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI).
Ms Adams says the 9984 UFB customer number is in-line with government expectations.
With 20% of UFB fibre liad by the end of year two, the project compares well to similar roll-outs overseas, Ms Adams says.
RAW DATA: Summary stats for UFB rollout to June 30, 2013 (PDF)