Enable Networks connects 50,000 to fibre

Hats off to Christchurch local fibre company Enable Networks. The company says it now has 50,000 customers connected to its network.

CEO Steve Fuller says that means one in three of those who can get the company’s services are now connected.

Fuller says 24,000 have switched to fibre in the last 12 months. He says: “We’ve connected about 100 customers to fibre every business day – about 50 per cent more than we thought we would connect at peak uptake rates”.

On target for 180k premises

Enable now has 6,240 business connections which is an increase of 2,142 in a year. By the time Enable’s network build finishes next year, it will reach around 180,000 premises.

The Canterbury town of Rolleston is Enable’s star performer with a connection rate of around 70 per cent.

Enable’s 50,000 connection milestone an achievement by any measure. The fibre build hasn’t been easy for Enable Networks, which was named as the government’s Christchurch UFB partner soon after the 2011 earthquake. At the time, the city was still reeling from aftershocks.

Levin UFB build done, Otaki next

Chorus has completed Levin's UFB build adding 8,500 more homes to the fibre network. By March the fibre uptake in the town stood at 20 percent with 1500 connections, twice the number a year earlier. The average customer in Levin downloads 200MB of data a month.

Levin is the 22nd town to be connected under the first phase of the UFB programme. Now contractors are moving on to Otaki, which will be connected as part of UFB phase 2. That project will connect another 3,000 homes and businesses to the fibre network.

Vodafone extends $5 roaming

Vodafone has more than doubled the number of destinations for its daily roaming deal. Customers can travel to over 70 countries and pay $5 a day to use their mobile phone as they would at home with out bill shock.

The detail is only available for customers on eligible post-pay plans. Many of the places added are in Asia, but Vodafone has also added South American nations to its roster. Vodafone says customers will be able to use 4G networks where they are available.

NBN build at half-way point

Australia's NBN Co says it has passed the half-way point of its roll-out. It now passes more than 5.7 million homes and business premises. Half of all Australians are now able to connect.

CommsDay reports this is well ahead of its target to reach 5.4 million premises by the end of 2017. NBN adds around 100,000 premises a week.

Vocus finds a second bidder

Affinity Equity Partners has matched the $2.2 billion Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co bid to buy the Vocus Group. The formal bid comes a month after KKR first approached the Australian telco. However, it was indicated around the time of the initial bid.

Australian media outlets suggest there may be other bidders waiting in the wings. The media also suggests the Vocus board is hoping to see a bidding war. The Australia reports on speculation that a private equity bid could see Vocus founder James Spencerly return to the company.

Last year Vocus shares were trading at A$9.50, the bids on the table value the company at $3.50 a share.