Telcos challenge Chorus plans to push fibre further

Chorus has big plans to go rural. (Image: Getty)

Mon, 15 Jan 2024

New Zealand’s three biggest telecommunications retailers are questioning whether Chorus’s $201 million investment plans to roll out fibre deeper into the provinces should fall under the regulatory regime that sets the network operator’s regulated revenue. The fibre company, spun out of Spark more than a decade ago to participate in the government’s ultrafast broadband plan, put forward a $1.35 billion capital spending programme for the four-year regulatory period starting in 2025. It includes plans to...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Policy

University reforms focus on economic impact

The Government is set to reject recommendations for a new oversight agency.

Greg Hurrell 5:00am

Opinion

Cameron Bagrie: Hold on: The 2026 election is going to be close

Watch out for the undecided vote percentages in upcoming polls.

Cameron Bagrie 5:00am

Hold on: The 2026 election is going to be close

Infrastructure

Analysts upbeat on POT, watching and waiting on Stella

The result beat guidance.

Rebecca Howard 5:00am

Analysts upbeat on POT, watching and waiting on Stella

Sponsored

Bold Steps: reshaping women’s leadership in Aotearoa

Dame Therese Walsh and Dame Joan Withers reflect on the summit’s unlikely beginnings – and how it has evolved into a platform for ambition and impact today.

OnBeingBold

Sponsored