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Chairman Warren Moyes speaks to LiveSport about rural broadband

Published on January 15^th 2010, 11:15am

Northpower’s chairman Warren Moyes discusses problems in getting broadband “to the farm gate and beyond”.

Moyes says his company became involved years ago while contracted by Auckland distribution company Vector. Moyes says it researched American methods of providing systems and says the company decided a few years ago to connect substations with fibre optics alongside the power network, something others mimicked once they discovered the benefits of fibre optics. Moyes says their advantage of already knowing the dangers of dealing with electricity lines means it can quickly and economically roll fibre optic out.

Moyes says it gave TelstraClear a year’s exclusive access to the network because it worked with it in developing the product. Dunne says this completely bypasses Telecom’s exchanges and goes straight to the business or homes and is not restricted by the distance or cost. Moyes says the Government seems adamant fibre optics will be chosen over copper, and Steven Joyce seemed impressed by the demonstration. Dunne questions whether the $1.5b fund will be enough and Moyes says once advantages are evident and momentum picks up, the Government and customers will surely be encouraged to ‘put in more’.

Moyes is also probed on whether private property access will be an issue for it.

 

Find out more about our Fibre developments in the Fibre Network Section

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