As of today, Tauranga is the fifteenth urban area where the rollout of Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) is finished.

The UFB rollout in Tauranga started in August 2011, and total investment in the build exceeds $75 million, Amy Adams, Communications Minister, said in an announcement.

According to Adams, all thirty-nine schools in Tauranga are now able to connect to UFB, and nearly all of them have taken up a service with the Network for Learning.

“At the end of January, almost a quarter of the 54,600 homes and businesses in Tauranga which could connect to UFB had done so - and that's the third highest uptake in New Zealand,” she says.

William Hamilton, Ultrafast Fibre CEO, says, “With nearly 55,000 end users now able to connect and high demand for UFB services, we look forward to seeing the truly innovative things that Tauranga does with access to the new technology."

Mayor Stuart Crosby says he is delighted the UFB build is complete and looks forward to the opportunities the technology will provide for Tauranga.

"Our Council wants to encourage the community to make the most of this new network and what it enables. Access to UFB is a significant step forward for Tauranga in its journey to becoming a world-class city,” says Crosby.

The nationwide UFB build is now 60% complete, with over 875,000 New Zealanders now able to connect to the network.

Adams says, “UFB offers the opportunity for New Zealanders to make the most of improving business productivity and connectivity, smarter ways to receive health care, and ensures our youngest New Zealanders are competing on the world stage while studying.

“Across the country, the rollout of UFB is making steady progress. Access to faster and more reliable broadband is vital in opening up opportunities for those living in Tauranga.