The government's announced the parameters of the fibre package. It's based on a new "Crown Fibre Investment Company" which will work with local investment companies.
Its an excellent paper - at the top end of TUANZ expectations.
It sets out a clear structure for the proposed partnerships, and will give aspirant investors in the private sector all the information they need to come up with regionally-based proposals.
It mentions a need to adhere to "common technical and commercial standards in key areas such as open access, equivalence and interconnection" - picking up the TUANZ push for a national digital architecture to underpin all this.
It's sector-neutral. It clears the way for the widest range of potential co-investors including telecommunications companies, power lines companies, or regional consortia. This is important, as a greater diversity of investors are showing their hands and broadening the range of innovative, cost-effective solutions.
I'm especially pleased with the sense of momentum that the paper conveys. No doubt some potential investors will find the initial deadline for submissions challenging. But the guts of the plan has been well signalled, and my sense is that oodles of aspirants are champing at the byte.
There's only one concern in my books. The target of covering 75% of New Zealanders within ten years, as time moves on, is starting to look too soft. The Minister's announced a separate process is planned for them, possibly in conjunction with the TSO review.
But if I was a farmer waiting to capture the benefits of ultra fast broadband, I'd be looking for something specific real quick. Rural areas are where the very best economic gains stand to be made.