Chorus says the faster speeds are being provided to broadband providers at no extra cost. File photo. Photo: Supplied / Chorus
High speed internet will soon get a lot faster for those on Chorus' basic household plans, with double the speed at no extra cost from June.
The telecommunications lines company says the upgrade is being provided to broadband providers at no extra cost, which could in turn be passed on to consumers.
The most most popular residential plan - 300/100 megabytes per second (Mbps) - would be boosted to 500/100Mbps, while the basic 50/10Mbps plan will increase to 100/20Mbps.
Chorus chief executive Mark Aue said the faster speeds would improve uninterrupted scrolling and viewing, and allow for multi-tasking, with many devices able to operate smoothly on the same connection.
"New Zealand has long been at the forefront with other global broadband leaders, and we believe it's time to step up the game again, so customers can continue to reap the best benefits in an increasingly digital world," he said.
New Zealanders' household data usage had seen 13-fold growth over the last decade to 650 gigabytes (GB) from 50GB on average per month.
"Chorus' speed upgrades demonstrate our commitment to keeping New Zealand at the forefront of digital connectivity," Aue said.
Future developments
This was not just a speed boost, said Aue. "It's an investment in New Zealand's digital future, backed by the fact our country's fibre infrastructure has already delivered $31 billion worth of economic benefits over the past decade.
"We are committed to supporting New Zealand's evolving digital habits and ensuring that our customers' broadband can grow with them and their everyday needs."
Aue said the transition from linear broadcast to live streaming was still a work in progress, with live sports, 4K content streaming, AI functions and virtual reality applications still early in their development and popularity.
Chorus expected speed requirements and data usage would continue to accelerate, with average monthly household usage to reach 1 terabyte by 2029.
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