Christchurch's love affair with fibre broadband continues

More than 10,000 Christchurch customers had connected to Enable's fibre network by the end of March - a 220% increase in connections in the last 12 months.

The Christchurch fibre network provider says uptake is now approaching 15% across all areas where it has launched fibre broadband, with uptake in some areas running around 30% or higher.

Steve Fuller, Enable chief executive, says a little over two years ago the company was excited to have 1000 connections.

"This time last year it was 3000.

"To now be above 10,000 demonstrates the tremendous interest in fibre broadband across our community, as well as an increasing understanding of the benefits of better, faster broadband connectivity," Fuller says.

Rolleston and Wigram communities in particular appear to have taken to broadband, with 35% of homes and businesses now connected. Lincoln and Halswell are at 27% connected, while Addington, Burnside and Bishopdale are all more than 20%.

"If you are living in these suburbs and you have not connected to fibre yet, chances are at least one, if not two, of your immediate neighbours are connected and enjoying better, faster broadband," Fuller says.

"What we are seeing in these communities is truly world-leading – when you consider that New Zealand is experiencing the highest growth in fibre connections amongst OECD countries with a national uptake rate of 11.3%.

Fuller says it's highly likely that come the end of this year, more people will be on fibre than copper in Rolleston – something he says is 'remarkable' given that the services were only launched across Rolleston in October 2013.

Enable launched fibre broadband services to 6500 new addresses across Christchurch during April, bringing the company's total fibre broadband coverage to 78,000 homes and businesses.