Vodafone New Zealand completes Red Network in Auckland

Vodafone has announced the completion of the Red Network in Auckland ahead of schedule. The company had committed to unbundling 40 exchanges in Auckland by the year’s end. They have completed all 40 exchanges almost two months before the date originally planned.

Vodafone is now capable of offering 88% of all lines in the Auckland area with fixed line competition.

Vodafone Chief Marketing Officer Mark Rushworth says this is the culmination of a lot of hard work from both Vodafone staff and Telecom Chorus engineers.

“This is a great day for broadband customers in Auckland as it demonstrates our commitment to offering true competition right across the city,” says Rushworth.

“Without the assistance of the Chorus guys we couldn’t have come in ahead of our target date, so that’s a big thank you to them.”

In June Vodafone announced it would unbundle exchanges right across Auckland, offering a mix of ADSL2+ and VDSL2 ports to customers. Customer uptake has been tremendous and while VDSL2 is still undergoing trialling at this stage, it promises to offer business customers a whole new world of broadband capability.

“Now our attention will turn to the rest of the country and we are actively looking at opportunities in both wholesale and unbundling in all the main centres.

“Customers tell us they love the faster broadband combined with fixed line calling offers that allow them to make unlimited toll calls for a fixed price. We’ve shaken up the market with such bundles and the era of toll calling is well and truly over,” says Rushworth.