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New Zealand,United States : GIGATOWN finalists to win broadband connection for 3 years [TendersInfo (India)](TendersInfo (India) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Chorus announced the 5 towns that have gone through to the final round of the Gigatown competition. Dunedin, Gisborne, Nelson, Timaru and Wanaka have all won places in the final and will compete for a chance to become New Zealand s first Gigatown. Chorus confirmed that Orcon signed up to be the first retail broadband provider to support Gigatown and will be developing new services for customers over the Chorus fibre network in 2015. Chorus joint acting General Manager of Marketing and Sales, Mike Lott, says, the winning town will be ideally placed to become a leading digital innovation hub for New Zealand. With Orcon on board to deliver services in the winning town over our fibre network, we re looking forward to seeing the infinite possibilities available to Gigatown residents and businesses alike. Orcon is excited to be part of Chorus Gigatown initiative. It s great for Kiwis, and it s great for us, as we can continue to demonstrate our fibre leadership in the New Zealand market. The final round of the Gigatown competition kicks off towns are now competing to win points across 5 different challenges, 1 of which includes developing a plan for gig success, where they can demonstrate how they will leverage access to gigabit fibre. The plans for success will be judged by a panel of influential New Zealanders, with the New Zealand public called on to cast their vote for their favourite plan, before the winner is announced. The judging panel will be announced at the end of September. To become Gigatown, finalists need to show just how much they want to win by demonstrating strong community engagement, by having the loudest voice on social media, and the largest number of supporters. Chorus is taking representatives from the 5 finalist towns to Chattanooga in Tennessee, US so they can see how a community can be transformed by world leading connectivity with gigabit services. The town that wins Gigatown will receive access to a 1 Gigabit per second (1Gbps) internet connection at entry level wholesale broadband prices for 3 years, with 2 different funds: - A Gigatown development fund, a $200,000 fund provided by Chorus and Alcatel Lucent s Connect will support entrepreneurs and innovators taking new services to market over the gigabit fibre connection in Gigatown. - A Gigatown community fund this is a $500,000 fund provided by Chorus over a three-year period for organisations in the winning Gigatown that want to kick start community related developments that showcase how gigabit infrastructure and UFB can be activated for social good. (c) 2014 Euclid Infotech Pvt. Ltd. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). |