Media Releases
Orcon launches unbundled broadband and phone calls
Written by Duncan Blair
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Orcon today (Mar. 13, 2008) launches faster broadband and unlimited national calls on a newly unbundled network, meaning households no longer have to deal with Telecom.
Orcon is the first telecommunications provider to introduce new phone and internet plans following the Government's decision in late 2006 to 'unbundle' the local loop, the copper wires that link homes to their neighbourhood exchanges.
Called Orcon@home+, the company's unbundled telephone and ADSL2+ broadband network is initially available via five Auckland exchanges. A further 10 exchanges will be added by mid-2008, with major cities added in stages through 2008 and 2009.
Those New Zealanders in areas awaiting unbundling are also being looked after. Orcon is launching a new range of broadband and calling packages for residents in most other areas, based on existing Telecom wholesale products.
Orcon's new unbundled ADSL2+ service has the potential to deliver speeds of up to 24 megabits per second (Mbps) downstream and up to 1 Mbps upstream , roughly tripling the downstream bandwidth capacity of standard ADSL. ADSL is the common existing broadband standard in New Zealand.
Orcon is launching three plans, all of which include "world class" broadband. The main plans offer unlimited toll calls in New Zealand, and the ultimate package offers unlimited overseas calls to one of 15 countries of the subscriber's choice.
There is no minimum contract period and Orcon says its customers are capable of saving hundreds of dollars a year.
Households on the mid-level Orcon@home Gold+ plan pay $99.95 a month for next generation broadband, home calling and an unlimited number of national calls. Orcon estimates that that's a saving of about $30 on similar services purchased from Telecom.
Customers do not have to sign up to a long term contract locking them in to the service - the only minimum is for one-month.
"While it's broadband freedom day for New Zealanders this is just the first step in our plans to bring Kiwis the world class telecommunications and entertainment services they want," says Orcon chief executive officer Scott Bartlett.
"We are the small guy doing things differently. We have been quietly working away for a couple of years focusing on quality service while getting ready for the big day. Finally Kiwis can reap the benefits of true competition in the telecommunications industry."
Working with technology company Nokia Siemens Networks, Orcon has been installing its equipment in the exchanges since July last year and has been trialling the service since August last year.
The ADSL2+ service is available initially to households linked to five Auckland telephone exchanges in Glenfield, Browns Bay, Ellerslie, Mt Albert and Ponsonby.