Vodafone launches 'unbundled' broadband

Vodafone is entering the fixed-line broadband market, going head-to-head with Telecom.

The company has become the second telecommunications company to install its broadband equipment in Telecom exchanges.

It has set up equipment in 19 Auckland exchanges, known as unbundling, and expects to complete the Auckland rollout in October.

Unbundling allows Vodafone to deliver broadband to customers, rather than buying access to its customers through Telecom.

At the launch of its unbundled services in Auckland yesterday, Vodafone chief executive Russell Stanners said once the Auckland rollout is complete, the company will start fitting out exchanges in other regions.

"Based on the market today, we'd look at Hamilton, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Rotorua and Taupo, and of course Wellington," he said.

The ADSL2+ technology used offers a theoretical speed of up to 24 megabits per second, although this drops off the further away the customer is from the exchange.

Last month Orcon announced the launch of its own unbundled services.

- © Fairfax NZ News