InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) congratulates the Government on its decision to test nationwide fibre deployment standards through a series of pilot projects. The Ministry of Economic Development has issued a tender for seven pilots focused on deployment of fibre using mini-trenching, micro-trenching, aerial installation, directional drilling and undergrounding.

InternetNZ Chief Executive Vikram Kumar describes the pilot projects as an important exploratory measure that will assist greater understanding of alternative build techniques and could ultimately help reduce deployment costs.

"The UFB and Rural Broadband initiatives will significantly transform New Zealand's broadband market. Much of the build cost relates to passive infrastructure and a range of techniques will be needed to roll-out fibre across challenging land and subsurface topographies.

"InternetNZ fully supports the Government's efforts to accelerate the rollout of fibre and hopes that the learnings arising from the pilot projects will assist with that."