Chorus announces free speed upgrade for NZ fibre users

Chorus has announced upgrades to its wholesale fibre broadband speeds, offering the improvement at no additional cost, which could benefit over 700,000 homes in New Zealand.

The country's largest wholesale fibre provider is increasing download speeds for its Fibre 50 plans, including Home Fibre Starter, from 50/10Mbps to 100/20Mbps, and Home Fibre 300 will be upgraded from 300/100Mbps to 500/100Mbps. These enhancements are set to commence in June 2025, as determined by broadband providers.

Chorus has coordinated with broadband retailers to ensure that the speed improvements benefit consumers, aiming to meet New Zealand's rising demand for high-speed internet. The upgrades enable broadband providers to pass these changes directly to end-users if they choose to do so.

Chorus stated that the country has witnessed a substantial increase in data usage. New Zealanders' average monthly data consumption has increased thirteen-fold over the last decade, rising from less than 50GB to approximately 650GB today.

Commenting on the importance of high-speed and reliable internet, Chorus CEO Mark Aue said, "Whether we're working from home, streaming entertainment or taking a virtual health appointment, our world is increasingly shifting online. New Zealand has long been at the forefront with other global broadband leaders, and we believe it's time to step up the game again, so customers can continue to reap the best benefits in an increasingly digital world."

Chorus highlights how modern multimedia activities demand higher speeds. Applications such as video streaming and online gaming require enhanced download capabilities as they pre-load content and download updates, which can affect internet performance across households.

With these upgraded speeds, users can better experience uninterrupted video streaming, engage in multi-tasking activities, and operate multiple devices simultaneously. Chorus forecasts that as more households adopt live sports and 4K content streaming, artificial intelligence functions, and virtual reality, demand for speed and data usage will continue to rise. It anticipates that by 2029, data usage may double to 1TB in most households.

Aue emphasised the significance of the upgrades by stating: "Chorus' speed upgrades demonstrate our commitment to keeping New Zealand at the forefront of digital connectivity. This isn't just a speed boost — it's an investment in New Zealand's digital future, backed by the fact our country's fibre infrastructure has already delivered $31bn worth of economic benefits over the past decade."

Chorus aims to phase out its copper network by 2030 to focus solely on fibre services. It has played a significant role in building New Zealand's fibre infrastructure, contributing to enhanced productivity and economic growth, reflected in a $31bn economic benefit over the last ten years and $8.8bn in increased productivity in 2023 alone.

Despite being primarily focused on infrastructure, these improvements underline Chorus's dedication to adapting to New Zealand's digital trends and requirements. The company works with more than 90 phone and broadband retailers in the nation to help align broadband capabilities with evolving consumer usage patterns.