To date, fibre optic cables have been deployed to Albany in Auckland, with more work scheduled to begin in Ashburton, Blenheim, Dunedin, Masterton, Napier-Hastings, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Taupo and Wellington by December.

Chorus will deploy and operate the network build to 69.4 per cent of the network's coverage, with Enable Networks, Northpower Limited and Ultrafast Fibre Limited to cover the remaining 30.6 per cent by 2019. Initial rollout will focus on connecting schools, businesses and health premises.

, Mark Ratcliffe, said the network will reach 43,000 homes and businesses across the country and deliver 200 schools a fibre connection by July 2012.