Specified fibre areas (SFAs) are the locations where Chorus will eventually be able to stop providing copper-based phone and internet services, because fibre is available.
The Commission is required to carry out an annual assessment to determine the geographic areas in which specified fibre services (SFAs) are available to end-users.
The assessment and notification of SFAs is a prerequisite to enabling Chorus to withdraw the supply of copper fixed line services to end-users within those SFAs. Before Chorus can withdraw supply of a copper service it must also comply with the Copper Withdrawal Code which came into effect on 1 March 2021. If fibre is not available, nothing will change.
Our initial assessment (2019) of SFAs covered approximately 1.5 million households and businesses mainly in major towns and cities across New Zealand. We have updated this map annually thereafter, and now again in 2023 based on information provided from Chorus and local fibre companies Northpower Fibre, Tuatahi First Fibre, and Enable Networks as of 1 July 2023. The 2023 update has resulted in a 20% increase in SFA’s since the initial 2019 assessment.
This interactive digital map of SFAs is designed to help consumers find out if fibre is rolled out in their area. SFAs are shown as brown shaded areas. While this map shows where fibre is available, some consumers may not be able to have fibre installed, for instance if they rent and require their landlord’s permission or they are on a shared driveway requiring their neighbour’s consent.
Please note because of the way we assess SFAs, this map may be different to information available on www.broadbandmap.nz or providers own maps. More information about how we assess SFAs can be found on our website.
To find out if you can get fibre installed, please talk to your telecommunications provider. If you are unable to resolve an issue with your provider, a dispute resolution service may be able to help. The Telecommunications Dispute Resolution (TDR) service can help with most telecommunications disputes, including broadband and billing issues. Utilities Disputes may be able to help you with fibre shared property access disputes.
SFA map file
The SFA map is also available as a geographic information systems (GIS) shapefile of the primary LINZ survey parcel where specified fibre services are available. This file includes information to identify the survey parcel, the SFA name, and the fibre service provider(s). We have made this file available to allow interested parties to use the SFA map in their own GIS software.
The LINZ portion of the shapefile is distributed under a creative commons 4.0 licence.
