Simon Bridges | Communications

The Government is investing $270 million to roll out Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) to 190 more small towns, and extend rural broadband to another 74,000 households and businesses, Communications Minister Simon Bridges says. “We’re also bringing the completion of the UFB network forward by two years. By the end of 2022, our UFB programme will provide more than four million New Zealanders with access to world-class internet,” Mr Bridges says. The investment is made up of: ...

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Simon Bridges | Communications

A new regime that makes it quicker and easier for people living down shared driveways or in apartment complexes to connect to Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) has begun, Communications Minister Simon Bridges says. The Telecommunications (Property Access and Other Matters) Amendment Act, which passed into law in April, introduced a new, simplified consenting process that telecommunications companies must follow when installing modern networks like UFB, in instances where there are multiple interests in a property. ...

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Simon Bridges | Communications

Communications Minister Simon Bridges has welcomed the start of the Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) build in four more regional towns as the extension of the Government’s broadband programme continues to roll out across the country. In January the Government announced an investment of $300 million to extend UFB to another 423,000 New Zealanders across a further 151 towns. “Having access to fast and reliable broadband is critical to growing our regional economies and to New Zealand’s future,” Mr Bridges says. ...

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Simon Bridges | Communications

Almost 1.2 million New Zealand households and businesses now have access to Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB), Communications Minister Simon Bridges says. The June 2017 Quarterly Broadband Update released today shows that deployment for phase one of the UFB programme is close to 80 per cent complete, providing 1,185,351 New Zealand households and businesses with the ability to access UFB. ...

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Simon Bridges | Communications

Communications Minister Simon Bridges will introduce a Bill to Parliament today that brings New Zealand’s telecommunications regulatory framework into the 21st century. “The telecommunications market is changing, with new technologies, shifting consumer behaviour and evolving business models. Alongside this, consumers have vastly improved connectivity through the Government’s $2 billion rollout of world-leading communications infrastructure, with more to come,” Mr Bridges says. ...

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Paula Bennett | Communications

The new caller location system for 111 mobile phone calls has already made a significant impact in the two months it has been up and running, say Police Minister Paula Bennett, Communications Minister Simon Bridges and Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne. The system automatically provides emergency services with the probable location of a caller when they dial 111 from a mobile phone, enabling police, fire and ambulance services to respond more quickly. ...

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Simon Bridges | Communications

Communications Minister Simon Bridges has welcomed the start of the Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) build in Picton, Horotiu, Thames, Dargaville and One Tree Point, as the extension to the Government’s UFB programme gathers pace. In January the Government announced an investment of $300 million to extend UFB to another 423,000 New Zealanders across a further 151 towns. “Having access to fast and reliable broadband is critical to growing our regional economies and to New Zealand’s future,” Mr Bridges says ...

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Simon Bridges | Communications

The Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) build in Levin is now complete, providing an additional 8,507 households and businesses in the Manawatu-Whanganui region with access to fibre. Communications Minister Simon Bridges was in Levin today to celebrate the completion of the build and to mark the start of the UFB build in Otaki under the second phase of the Government’s UFB programme. Levin is the 22nd town to have its UFB build completed under phase one. ...

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Simon Bridges | Communications

Communications Minister Simon Bridges has today welcomed the release of research which suggests over $2 billion of potential economic benefits from the application of the Internet of Things (IoT) across key sectors of the New Zealand economy. IoT is a concept that involves connecting devices to the internet, enabling them to ‘talk’ to each other and to people, such as moisture sensors on farms and power meters on houses. ...

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Simon Bridges | Communications

Communications Minister Simon Bridges and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy have announced $1.6 million funding for two workstreams to promote the uptake of digital technology across Canterbury and to take advantage of new value-add market opportunities. The Ministers are in Canterbury today to co-launch the refresh of the Canterbury Regional Economic Development Strategy.  ...

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Simon Bridges | Communications

More than three-quarters of the build for phase one of the Government’s Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) programme is complete, says Communications Minister Simon Bridges. “This is a fantastic milestone which means that more than 1,132,000 households and businesses now have access to fibre. At four per cent ahead of schedule, the build is now complete in 22 cities and towns across New Zealand,” Mr Bridges says. ...

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Simon Bridges | Communications

Communications Minister Simon Bridges has today announced the reappointment of Dr Stephen Gale as Telecommunications Commissioner and as a member of the Commerce Commission. Dr Gale has been appointed for a further three years starting on 12 July. “The reappointment of Dr Gale recognises his valuable knowledge and expertise in competition and pricing issues, and the significant contribution he has made to the work of the Commission over a number of years,” Mr Bridges says. ...

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Simon Bridges | Communications

Communications Minister Simon Bridges and Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith have welcomed the launch of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Forum to help understand the opportunities and challenges relating to AI in New Zealand. Supported by NZTech, the Forum brings together users of technology, tech firms, academia and government to help connect, promote and advance the AI ecosystem and drive positive social and economic outcomes for New Zealand. ...

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Simon Bridges | Arts, Culture and Heritage

Communications Minister Simon Bridges and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry have welcomed the announcement of a safe, interactive ad-free space for primary school age children to explore and enjoy online local media content. The new media initiative is a collaboration between NZ On Air and TVNZ. The interactive curated website will be run by a newly formed team at TVNZ, utilising the company’s expertise and technology. ...

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Simon Bridges | Communications

Communications Minister Simon Bridges today announced the final details of the Government’s reform package to improve the Telecommunications Act and modernise the communications sector. The final package will introduce a more predictable utility-style model for Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) fibre, deregulate copper lines where fibre is available, and improve the quality of service for consumers by increasing regulatory oversight. ...

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Simon Bridges | Communications

The Government is committed to making New Zealand’s communications network one of the best in the world, Communications Minister Simon Bridges says. Minister Bridges spoke at the 2017 Rural Connectivity Symposium in Wellington today. “In 2009 the internet in New Zealand was slow, and many people didn’t have adequate access at all – particularly in rural areas,” Mr Bridges says. ...

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Simon Bridges | Communications

More than a third of New Zealanders with access to Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) are now connected, says Communications Minister Simon Bridges. The March 2017 Quarterly Broadband Update released today shows the number of households, business, schools and hospitals connected to UFB has increased 12 per cent in the past three months to 367,788. “It’s encouraging to see that strong demand for UFB is continuing, as connectivity continues to improve across New Zealand,” Mr Bridges says. ...

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Simon Bridges | Communications

Communications Minister Simon Bridges has welcomed the start of the Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) build in Hikurangi and Hokitika, the first towns to commence the build under the extension of the UFB programme. In January, the Government announced an investment of $300 million to extend UFB to another 423,000 New Zealanders across a further 151 towns. “Having access to fast and reliable broadband is critical for regional towns like Hikurangi and Hokitika,” Mr Bridges says. ...

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Paula Bennett | Communications

Police Minister Paula Bennett, Communications Minister Simon Bridges and Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne, today announced a new caller location system for 111 mobile phone calls that will improve public safety and help save lives. “The new system will automatically provide emergency services with a probable location of a caller when they dial 111,” Mrs Bennett says. ...

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Simon Bridges | Communications

Communications Minister Simon Bridges has acknowledged the start of Techweek’17, a nationwide event that will showcase New Zealand-grown technology and innovation to the world. The annual events kicks off tomorrow and runs to 14 May. It will see more than 150 events held across New Zealand, with a theme of ‘local answers to global questions’. ...

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