Work is underway on the rollout of Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) in the central North Island, with WEL Networks starting work on the $300 million project in the Hamilton suburb of Te Rapa.

The deployment is part of the government's commitment to deliver UFB to 75% of New Zealand's population by the end of 2019.

The build is expected to take five years, with work beginning in Wanganui and Tauranga in coming weeks, followed by deployment in Cambridge, Te Awamutu, New Plymouth, Hawera and Tokoroa from next year.

Although the priority users are schools and healthcare providers, the first beneficiary will be a steel component fabricator, Stainless Design. Underground fibre-optic cable is being run past its premises today, and will be connected in a few months' time when electronics are added and the fibre is ‘lit'.