Enable Networks has deployed one of New Zealand’s first major metropolitan local area networks (LAN) in Christchurch City in order to offer businesses, schools and health organisations affordable optical fibre connections.

The 130km long optical fibre network uses Brocade Ethernet switching technology and is already available to more than half of Christchurch’s businesses and is expected to be available to most commercial buildings, schools and health locations by 2011.

The network operates on an ‘open access’ basis which allows any IT communications company to deliver services to Christchurch businesses.

“Using Brocade LAN technology, Enable has created a network that will deliver all the benefits of high-speed broadband to public and private sector organisations throughout Christchurch and accelerate business broadband speeds by up to 400 times,” said Mat Watkins, Operations Manager of Enable Networks.

Graham Schultz, Brocade Country Manager for ANZ, said that the recent government announcement of the broadband investment initiative has been spurring growth in the region.

“We’re seeing an increase in New Zealand-based organisations and government departments driving large projects, such as Enable Networks, to deliver significantly improved choice of technology solutions for businesses.”