High-Speed Broadband Access - Milestones 2007/08

November 2008

Announcement received that the Broadband Investment Fund (BIF) has been put on hold by the incoming Government.

A Wellington Regional Expression of Interest (EOI) was submitted to the Government's BIF.
Wellington's EOI application was approved to proceed to the full application stage along with 35 other applicants across the country.

Budget 2008 provides $500 million funding package for broadband investment, including $250 million for urban broadband projects.
Wellington City Council will prepare a joint application, with other councils in the region, to the Government's BIF. The Strategy & Policy Committee agrees to provide $200,000, subject to Annual Plan deliberations, to fund planning and feasibility study.

Strategy and Policy Committee agrees to a paper investigating low-cost initiatives to improve broadband coverage, including making use of existing city pipes, and laying new ducting for fibre-optic cable while other work is carried out.
Work continues on business and financial models.

Ongoing stakeholder engagement process on business and financial model; consultation with central government, other local bodies, and the telecommunications industry.
Online MUSH (Municipal - University - School - Hospital) survey of 244 entities investigates possible revenue streams; includes all schools, hospitals and medical centres in Wellington city.
Financial Model development.

Ongoing development of business model options / three-stage network architecture from Request for Concept responses.
Progress report and presentation delivered to Wellington City Council Management Team.

Elected Member Session briefs councillors on progress.
Ongoing stakeholder engagement process on business and financial model; consultation with central government, other local bodies, and telecommunications industry.

Wellington City Council Evaluation Team discusses / ranks Request for Concept proposals.
Ongoing development of business model options / three-stage network architecture from Request for Concept responses.
Mayoral Advisory Board meets.
Workshop seeks ideas on / understanding of Broadband project from Wellington City Council teams.
Fibre-optic technology decision made.
Business and financial phase begins.
Australian broadband expert Robin Eckermann consults to Wellington City Council on model development.

Request for Concept process closed - 24 responses received, 43 organisations registered interest.
Wellington City Council Evaluation Team created to discuss and rank Request for Concept proposals.
Ongoing development of business model options / three-stage network architecture from Request for Concept responses.

Community consultation completed - 18 Broadband submissions.
Wayne Maxwell (Director, Strategy) addresses TUANZ (Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand) Telecommunications Day event.

Mayoral Advisory Group first meeting (8 key opinion holders / influential stakeholders) discuss how to progress the Broadband project.
Request for Concept industry briefing.
Community consultation begins (part of draft Annual Plan).

Department Details:
Strategy