Download Weekly: Fibre uptake now at two-thirds

UFB hits key milestone with roll-out end in sight
Two-thirds of premises connected to Chorus’ original UFB1 network have now taken up fibre services. The uptake rate moved from 65 percent to 66 percent during the last three months of 2020.
During the quarter the number of connections increased by 29,000. Uptake across the entire Chorus fibre network, including the UFB2 areas, is now at 63 percent.
Invercargill has the highest uptake with around 75 percent of premises on the network buying fibre services. Other hotspots with above average take-up include Waiuku, Auckland, Nelson and Dunedin.
UFB project at 92 percent
In its latest quarterly update Chorus says the total UFB roll out is now 92 percent complete. Towns added during the quarter include Taumarunui, Hunterville, Cheviot and Amberley.
Copper connections fell by 50,000 during the last three months of 2020. Fibre now accounts for 59 percent of all Chorus connections.
The monthly average data use continues to climb. In December it was 390GB per connection across the entire Chorus network. On fibre connections the average monthly use was 460GB.
Trustpower mulls selling retail business
Trustpower says it is considering selling its retail operation to focus on electricity generation. The move could reshape the broadband sector. The power company is New Zealand’s third largest broadband service provider with around 108,000 customers. That’s a six percent market share. It also resells Spark mobile phone plans. Infratil, which is part-owner of Vodafone, is the majority owner of Trustpower and say it is supportive of the separation plan. It is itself currently a potential take-over target.
Rendell takes Kordia reins
Kordia has confirmed Shaun Rendell as the company’s group CEO. Until now he has been acting group CEO, taking over when former group CEO Scott Bartlett took sick-leave. Before that he was Kordia’s chief financial officer.
Spark, 2degrees increase mobile market share
Telcowatch says Spark and 2degrees saw an increase in market share in the last three months of 2020. Spark put on 0.8 percent to take its share to 35 percent. While its Skinny subsidiary lost 1.5 percent of market share, down to 7 percent, the company’s total share is at 42 percent. Vodafone fell 0.8 percent to 36 percent. 2degrees is on 23 percent market share.
Vodafone, Spark plan ethical advertising
Reporting at Stuff, Tom Pullar-Strecker reports that Vodafone and Spark have withdrawn advertising from Magic Talk radio. The move comes after presenter and former politician John Banks aired racist comments. Pullar-Strecker writes: “Vodafone spokeswoman Nicky Preston said the Magic Talk incident had prompted its wider review of its advertising policies.”
CommComm calls for fibre regulation feedback
An online survey run by the Commerce Commission aims to collect feedback from telecommunications stakeholders on fibre service regulation. With the Commission finalising rules, requirements and processes, the survey asks wholesale fibre customers about risks that could lower market competition.
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