Q1 FY26 Connections Update

STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT

15 October 2025

Q1 FY26 Connections Update

Chorus today released its connections update for the Q1 period to 30 September 2025.

Data demand remains strong

Strong demand in data continued during the quarter with highest average monthly usage of 686 gigabytes (GB) in August. Fibre usage in September dipped slightly, as it has done in other years, and averaged 668GB. This compared to 671GB in June which included the Fortnite gaming update on 8 June. Year on year, the monthly average data usage on fibre for September was up 10%.

We observed an increase in fibre network traffic from live sport streaming, for example, traffic levels during the All Blacks games in August were 20% higher than usual.

Steady fibre connection growth

Total fibre connections were 1,122,000 at end September and increased by approximately 7,000 lines in the quarter. This growth more than offset a decline of approximately 4,000 copper lines in Chorus’ fibre areas.

Fibre uptake in UFB2 rollout areas, completed between 2018 and the end of 2022, rose from 62% to 63%. Fibre uptake across Chorus’ wider fibre network footprint, excluding other local fibre company areas, lifted by 0.1% to 72.2%.

During the quarter, another 9,000 addresses were passed by fibre. This included approximately 5,000 addresses covered by Chorus’ network extension project for existing homes in smaller communities. Pleasingly, this fibre extension build is now complete and handed over, with more than 9,000 addresses passed, of which approximately 2,300 have already connected.

Copper retirement in Chorus fibre areas by mid-2026

Chorus’ total fixed line connections reduced by 7,000 lines, consistent with the trend in the prior quarter. This continued to reflect the combination of reducing demand for copper connections, partly offset by growth in fibre connections.

Another 14,000 copper lines disconnected in the quarter, leaving about 78,000 in service nationwide at the end of September. Just 9,000 of these lines remain in service in Chorus’ fibre areas, with copper services in these areas on track to be retired by mid-2026.
In areas where fibre is not available, Chorus saw about 7,000 copper customers choose to migrate to alternative network options in the quarter. This leaves approximately 61,000 copper lines outside of the existing fibre footprint.

As part of the copper network retirement by 2030, Chorus is committed to a clear, consumer-centric retirement process that supports the transition of customers still on copper to modern services.


Authorised by:

Mark Aue
Chief Executive Officer

ENDS


For further information:

Megan Heffield
Media and Content Manager
Phone 64 22 058 2619
Email: [email protected]

Aleida White
Head of Investor Relations
Mobile: 64 21 155 8837
Email: [email protected]

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