Ultrafast broadband fibre is going into the ground in Tauranga at more than half a kilometre per day.

Local fibre company, Ultrafast Fibre Limited, plans to complete the installation of 54 kilometres of fibre in Tauranga by February 28.

So far, 44 kilometres of its network has been completed. The remaining 10.2 kilometres of fibre will be laid this month at an average speed of 512 metres per day.

The fibre network being built by Ultrafast Fibre in Tauranga is part of a new, coast-to-coast, 3000-kilometre fibre network that will enable organisations and individuals throughout the Central North Island to connect to a new generation of ultrafast broadband in their communities.

Construction of the Ultrafast Fibre network began in 2011 and will be completed in 2016.

Ultrafast CEO Maxine Elliott says Ultrafast Fibre is on track to complete the fastest network build of any local fibre company in New Zealand.

'Tauranga organisations and residents will be among the first in the country to connect to

ultrafast broadband at speeds that rival the best in the world.

'From April 1, 590 businesses will connect to the Ultrafast Fibre network through

their preferred retail service provider, and from July 1, 3400 Tauranga homes will be able to connect to the network.”

Most of Ultrafast Fibre's work will take place in Judea, Brookfield and the central Mount during the next two months.

In April and May the company will begin laying fibre in Tauranga South and Omanu, while continuing work in Mount Maunganui.

During June and July, it will begin laying fibre to Tauranga Central and the area around

Tauranga Hospital.

In addition to laying fibre in Tauranga, Ultrafast Fibre is currently laying fibre in Hamilton and Wanganui.

A combined total of 154 kilometres of fibre has been laid in all three centres. Later this year, the company will also begin laying fibre in New Plymouth, Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Tokoroa and Hawera.

Visit www.ultrafastbroadband.co.nz or http://www.facebook.com/ultrafast.nz.