Kordia lifted the lid on some visionary projects during the TUANZ After 5s circuit this month.
Chief executive Geoff Hunt gave details of two major projects Kordia is seeking funding for which he says are aimed at delivering better and more affordable broadband to New Zealanders.
The first is a proposed fibre network roll-out in the Northland region. Kordia has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Northland Regional Council, NorthPower and Top Energy to build the network. The group has lodged an application with the Broadband Investment Fund (BIF) for funding of the project.
Hunt also announced that Kordia, in a joint-venture with Australia’s Pipe Network, has responded to REANNZ’s RFI to build a new trans-Tasman fibre cable.
Kordia estimates building another trans-Tasman cable will reduce international connectivity costs by US$1 billion over the next 10 years, says Hunt. “It has the potential to underpin New Zealand’s economic transformation,” he says.
Improved international bandwidth and fibre backhauls will be become essential as users both at home and at the office demand more high-capacity broadband services, Hunt says.
In homes, Hunt says demand for video content, often in high-definition, from services such as iTunes or Livestation.com will drive the need for faster broadband and unlimited data allowances.
Meanwhile, he cited a pilot project Kordia worked on with the Liggins Institute at the University of Auckland as an example of where better capacity can impact education outcomes.
The project enabled leading scientists and teachers to help students prepare for their scholarship biology exam via a seminar series through a converged satellite TV link.
Projects such as these can be vital elements in TUANZ’s vision for a national digital architecture.
Improved international bandwidth and ultra-fast broadband delivered via fibre to homes, businesses, farms and rural communities, can help unleash New Zealand’s economic potential.