A growing demand for high-speed broadband could see Hamilton establish itself as a tech hub

Communications Minister Amy Adams officially launched Alcatel-Lucent Oceania's network operations centre in Hamilton on Wednesday.

The centre, based in Te Rapa, announced a five-year contract with Chorus, New Zealand's largest communications infrastructure company, to deliver round-the clock monitoring and analysis of the country's wholesale fibre and copper networks.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/FAIRFAX NZ Communications Minister Amy Adams officially launched Alcatel-Lucent Oceania's new Hamilton network operations centre on Wednesday.

Adams said Hamilton and the Waikato region were increasingly seen as a desirable location for technology businesses and its proximity to Auckland, seismic stability, ease of living and ready access to highly skilled professionals had seen an increase in technology companies wanting to be based there.

The Alcatel-Lucent and Chorus agreement comes after the Government laid out plans to upgrade the country's telecommunications infrastructure through its Ultra-Fast Broadband and Rural Broadband initiatives.

Alcatel-Lucent's Hamilton facility would work closely with its global network centre in Bangalore, India, which would allow Chorus to meet the challenges of increasing demand.

Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker said the technology and communications sector in the city was growing exponentially.

Every home, business and school in Hamilton would have access to ultra-fast broad band by next year, Adams said, which was a a huge drawcard for businesses.

"What tends to happen is you get a critical mass, so as each one comes it reinforces that eco-system and shared environment of tech professionals. I think it's the beginnings of Waikato developing as a real tech hub in New Zealand."

Alcatel-Lucent president and managing director Sean O'Halloran said the global company had a long-standing history with Hamilton and its contract with Chorus would open the doors to potential growth in the future.

Communications Minister Amy Adams and Alcatel-Lucent president and managing director Sean O'Halloran.

The centre has 40 staff with a combined 750 years experience, he said.

"Don't underestimate the expertise we have here in Hamilton and what we've developed. The team here is of the highest quality."

Alcatel Lucent was not the only company seduced by the city's seismic stability. In 2012, a low risk of natural disasters secured Hamilton 150 new jobs when the Earthquake Commission opened a centre in London St.

Adams said she had visited Hamilton a number of times over recent years to open data centres and IT related businesses, and each one made it a little easier for the next one to come.

"I think you are going to see more tech businesses wanting to base here and making the same decisions as Alcatel-Lucent and others before them have made."

Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker said she was blown away by the level of experience at the operation centre. "You can't replicate that. That's about training and expertise and that's about people living in Hamilton and having that ability to deliver to these sorts of organisations."

It was fantastic for a global leader to continue to have a presence in Hamilton, Hardaker said, and the technology and communications sector in the city was growing exponentially.

Its distance from the ocean, stable geology and the ease to get around the city had long influenced the decision for businesses to come to Hamilton, and Hardaker said those factors were still equally important today.

Another one of Hamilton's advantages was its tertiary institutions that produced highly skilled professionals needed for these types of sectors, she said.

Ewen Powell, chief technology officer of Chorus said they would work with Alcatel-Lucent to transform their systems to facilitate future growth while ensuring they were equipped to deliver the highest quality of service and customer satisfaction.

"Alcatel-Lucent's expertise in managed services will provide us with new levels of insight across our network of local exchanges, cabinets and copper and fibre cables, elevating our capability to deliver the future of telecommunications for New Zealand."

Ultrafast Fibre, the company responsible for laying 5,000km of fibre optic cables throughout the North Island, would finish its five year project six months ahead of schedule.

The company was established by WEL Networks in 2010 to build, under government contract, the ultrafast broadband network in parts of the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and Manawatu-Wanganui regions, representing about 13 per cent of the entire national ultra-fast broadband build.

Ultrafast Fibre chief executive William Hamilton said the organisation had until June, 2016, to complete the five year build, but it would be finished early.

"We've got a bit of Hamilton, and a little bit of Tauranga to go," Hamilton said of what he described as "the biggest investment in ICT technology in years".

By September 1 Ultrafast Fibre had built 85 per cent of Hamilton's network with 46,403 properties ready for service, with 8,245 to go.

Ultrafast Fibre has already finished in Cambridge, where it can serve 6,878 premises, Te Awamutu, available to 5,299, and Tokoroa, 4918.