Enable now has over 1,000 fibre broadband connections across its network, almost doubling numbers since partnering with the Government last year.

After agreeing to deliver ultra-fast broadband (UFB) to the greater Christchurch community in May 2011, the fibre network provider has seen connections boost by nearly 200 homes switching to fibre broadband in recent weeks.

“Enable was formed just over five years ago to provide increased competition in the commercial fibre broadband market and to make fibre services available to more businesses at affordable prices,” says Enable CEO, Steve Fuller.

“The majority of our connections have historically been with customers requiring high-end commercial services and this is a tremendous result for Enable.”

Winning the Government UFB partnership has seen Enable develop from a niche fibre provider to a large-scale telecommunications infrastructure provider, with the company now building a mass-market fibre broadband network to around 180,000 homes and commercial businesses.

Six weeks ago the network provider launched fibre-to-the-home services in Christchurch for the first time to 5,000 potential fibre broadband users in Halswell, and this week launched a further 2,500 in Papanui and Bishopdale.

“Our connection volumes have increased considerably since our residential launch in mid-September with nearly 200 homes making the move to fibre broadband in Halswell – representing close to 5% initial uptake which is very pleasing,” Fuller says.

“More retail service providers will be launching residential services in the coming weeks.

"Early indications are that many more hundreds of homes in Halswell are ready to move over to fibre broadband services.”