Pressure - State - Response

The 2010 National Infrastructure Plan identified broadband as an immediate investment priority, recognising the importance of connectivity and the ability to rapidly transfer large amounts of information to enable a host of business and leisure activities. This is consistent with the general findings from the international literature that investment in infrastructure - particularly in network infrastructure such as transport and telecommunications - seems to boost long-term economic output more than other kinds of physical investment. In the Business Growth Agenda, it is described as "'enabling the fast and efficient exchange of information, telecommunications connects our communities and our businesses to each other and to the rest of the world."

As at 30 June 2013, the end of year two of the roll-out of the UFB/RBI, the projected targets have been met with over 300,000 end users now able to connect to UFB. More than 110,000 rural households are now able to connect to improved wireless broadband through Vodafone under the RBI, and more than 50,000 users have access to better fixed-line broadband through Chorus.

26 towns and cities had UFB available with 70% of public schools having fibre and 33 remote schools connected.

Uptake is gathering momentum with a 95% increase in UFB connections in the quarter ended 30 June 2013 over the previous quarter. With the major service providers just starting to bring package options to market, the uptake is projected to continue to increase, in a similar uptake pattern to what has happened in other countries undertaking similar roll-outs.