InternetNZ Chief Executive Vikram Kumar has come out applauding this morning’s announcement that Hamilton, Tauranga, Whangarei, New Plymouth and Wanganui will be the first to get ultra-fast broadband.

“Ultra-fast broadband is a game changer and seeing fibre rollout beginning in 2010 is welcome, especially given the delays that have cropped up in the process to date,” said Kumar.

“The initial pricing information set out today is excellent. The services will be affordable and really will drive uptake of fibre services, which is essential to making the UFB investment work, and to realising the economic gains the network can offer.”

Kumar also praised the decision to impose no connection fee for households, which could be a barrier to families taking up the fibre service.

“Other things that influence uptake – non-price issues like data caps and maintaining a level playing field for online content providers – will also be a focus for us,” he continued.

InternetNZ will now analyse the open access undertakings that apply to the deals, to see whether they are able to provide a robust guarantee of fair play for ISPs and other users of fibre.

“Of course, InternetNZ will continue to argue for a sound regulatory framework, and against the idea that a regulatory holiday is acceptable in the fibre world.”

Update: Time is running out and its shareholders need resolution, says Telecom CEO, Paul Reynolds.