Ventia's telecommunications team will venture into the mountainous terrain of New Zealand's South Island next month to begin building fibre routes that will bring world class broadband to some of the most geographically isolated regions of the country.

Ventia has been selected by Chorus as its key infrastructure partner to support the Government's multi-million-dollar West Coast and Southland Fibre Network Build project. 

The work being undertaken by Ventia will involve building 268 km of cable across two remote and stunning sections of the South Island - Haast to Lake Hawea and Te Anau to Milford. The build being undertaken by Ventia is part of a wider Government initiative that will also involve construction of a fibre cable from Haast to Fox Glacier.

Ventia New Zealand Country Manager Jim Tocher says that by improving the resilience of the network, the project will support improved connection speeds and help to unlock the economic potential of the region. 

We're thrilled to have been chosen to undertake a fibre infrastructure build that will be one of New Zealand's most technically challenging. 

"We're looking forward to bringing the full breadth of our expertise and technology to bear for a fibre build that will traverse hundreds of bridges, culverts, tunnels and avalanche walls in one of the South Island's most rugged landscapes."

Jim says the project will involve co-ordination with agencies including the Department of Conservation and Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency, as well as The Rural Connectivity Group to make the fibre available to mobile sites along the routes.

Project planning and design work is currently underway, with construction due to begin next month. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2022.