Chorus, Telecom's network access business, has completed a third of the work to enhance the broadband network in Tauranga. New roadside cabinets containing faster broadband equipment and fibre optic cable has been deployed in Greerton, Cambridge Heights, and the northern areas of Tauranga and Mt Maunganui.

Chorus upgraded 54 roadside cabinets and laid approximately 30km of new fibre optic cable, to extend fast broadband to 11,500 customers in these areas.
Chorus Fibre-to-the-Node programme manager Ed Beattie says each cabinet is the equivalent of a mini telephone exchange.
"The cabinets contain the electronic equipment needed to deliver broadband to homes via Chorus' local telecommunications access network,” says Ed.
"Previously this equipment would have been housed in the local telephone exchange and the whole reason we're bringing it closer to people is because the closer you are to the equipment the faster your broadband speed is." Customers within 2km of a new cabinet should be able to connect at faster ADSL2+ broadband speeds subject to other factors including their broadband plan, modem, computer, and the wiring in their home or business. Customers near the local telephone exchange will have their broadband service delivered from equipment based there.
Work to connect the Bayfair and Te Maunga areas will be completed by July next year. In all, Chorus plans to finish upgrading 147 cabinets and deploying about 58kms of fibre optic cable in the Tauranga district by mid-2011, building on the 317kms of fibre already in the local network.