Almost all homes to get free UFB connection - until 2016

The government and Crown Fibre Holdings have reached agreement with UFB partners Chorus, Enable and Northpower that provides for free residential connections for distances of up to 200 metres per house from the road, until at least the end of 2015.

ICT Minister Amy Adams confirmed the deal today.

“While the provision of free connections was already in place for the vast majority of homes, the uncertainty for those classed as non-standard was creating some concern for retail service providers and the public,” she says in a statement. “Today’s announcement provides certainty for the next three years while we finalise negotiations for the remainder of the build period.”

The “200 metres per house” limit means that, for example, three houses sharing a common driveway will be allowed 600 metres of free connection.

The proportion of houses that fall outside the new limits is estimated at 0.3 percent, says Adams.

Read more about the deal at Computerworld.