A shortlist of eligible partners for the government’s UltraFast Broadband (UFB) is expected next month, according to Crown Fibre HoldingsChair Simon Allen.

In a media statement Allen laid out an indicative timetablefor the assessment of 33 proposals from 18 organisations, two of which areoffering national solutions. CFH will contact all respondents this week toobtain additional information before it making its initial findings.

It expects to “settle on a preliminary shortlist of eligibleproposals” next month, and spend March and April carrying out furtherinvestigation into those bids. The process should be complete by theend of May, when a final shortlist will be announced and a recommendation madeto shareholding Ministers Steven Joyce and Bill English.

The final bidding process will take place in the thirdcalendar quarter of the year, giving CFH just enough time to fulfil the PrimeMinster John Key’s promise to the electorate that physical work will have begunby the end of the year.

Already overseas suppliers entirely new to the New Zealandmarket are eyeing up the fibre network.