IT Brief New Zealand - Technology news for CIOs & IT decision-makers
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Good things come to those who wait
Tue, 12th Mar 2013
FYI, this story is more than a year old

The government's $1.5bn ultra-fast broadband program is moseying along at turtle pace, but if they build it, surely Kiwis will come?

Latest figures show only a 2.6% uptake of initiative, begging the question of why New Zealanders are currently unfussed by UFB.

Having fibre is essential in a modern economy, and while anti-fibre hysteria hit rock bottom over the ditch earlier this year, such discontent has not been present here in New Zealand.

So, why out of the 134,912 users able to connect from the beginning of 2013, has only 3,806 done so? Is it price related?

Apparently not according to Amy Adams, Communications and Information Technology Minister, who remained unconcerned by the slow rates of uptake.

"It takes time for products to be developed for the market and for people to recognise the value of UFB," she told the NZ Herald.

"It's like cellphones - to begin with, a few people had them and then gradually more and more.

"Now most people can't think of their lives without a cellphone."

Alluding to the need to change an opinion, should the government be pushing the program more across the country, instead of seemingly waiting for the inevitable to happen, albeit it slowly.

As reported by TechDay in late February, Adams says the slow uptake is in line with government expectations and overseas experiences at this early stage of the project, despite fibre deployment already underway in 24 of the 33 towns and cities across the country.

With an increasing number of people working from home and using the internet when on the movie, the importance of high-speed connection is becoming more crucial by the day.

Recognising this, the government aims to ensure around 1.35m New Zealanders will have access to faster broadband by 2019.

The government's investment in broadband is certainly good news for New Zealand, but when will Kiwis see it?

Have you connected to UFB? Tell us your reasons why below