Q1 FY27 connections update: fibre base grows to 1,152,000
In its Q1 FY27 connections update, covering 1 July 2026 to 30 September 2026, Chorus recorded total fixed line connections of 1,192,000 at the end of September 2026, compared with 1,191,000 in June 2026. The Chorus Q1 FY27 connections result was driven by fibre, with the company reporting a net fibre connections increase of 5,000 lines.
That increase was partly offset by 4,000 copper disconnections in the quarter. Total fibre connections reached 1,152,000, up approximately 5,000 lines over the period.
Headline figures from the update:
- Total fibre connections: 1,152,000
- Fibre uptake across Chorus’ wider fibre network footprint, excluding other local fibre company areas: 76.2%, lifted by 0.3%
- Fibre uptake in UFB1 areas: 77.7%
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Fibre uptake and plan mix
Uptake across major urban areas
Fibre uptake across Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin was above 78% at the end of September. Auckland recorded 78.2%, Wellington 79.7% and Dunedin 79.3%.
UFB2 areas recorded uptake of 67.9%, compared with 77.7% in UFB1 areas.
Connection trends over five quarters
The appendix to the update sets out connection data across five quarters, from Q1 FY26 to Q1 FY27. Fibre connections rose in each quarter shown, while total copper connections fell from 78,000 to 40,000.
| Metric | Q1 FY26 (30-Sept-25) | Q2 FY26 (31-Dec-25) | Q3 FY26 (31-Mar-26) | Q4 FY26 (30-Jun-26) | Q1 FY27 (30-Sept-26) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fibre (broadband GPON + premium) | 1,122,000 | 1,129,000 | 1,142,000 | 1,147,000 | 1,152,000 |
| Total copper | 78,000 | 63,000 | 53,000 | 44,000 | 40,000 |
| Total connections | 1,200,000 | 1,192,000 | 1,195,000 | 1,191,000 | 1,192,000 |
| Total fibre uptake in Chorus fibre area | 74.4% | 74.8% | 75.5% | 75.9% | 76.2% |
Plan mix
Chorus described plan activity as stable. Demand for 1Gbps+ plans was 25% and 500Mbps plans were 60%, resulting in a total of 85% of plans on 500Mbps or greater.
The Home Fibre Starter (100/20Mbps) plan grew by 14,000 to 162,000 in Q1 FY27.
What fibre usage and traffic peaks show
Data demand keeps climbing
Average monthly fibre usage reached 741GB in September 2026, up 11% year on year, compared with 731GB in June 2026. The highest monthly average data usage was 760GB in July.
Usage at the top end is also material: 21% of all fibre connections used over 1 TB of data and 5% used over 2 TB. The appendix shows monthly average copper usage per connection of 335GB for the quarter.
Network performance through peak events
Chorus stated that the fibre network continued to perform through major traffic events, including sports streaming, school holiday demand and gaming updates. Specific peaks included:
- The first week of July was the busiest week on the Chorus network, with 208 PB transferred.
- A Fortnite update produced peak throughput of 4.9 terabits per second, the highest this calendar year.
Chorus said the continued growth in everyday fibre usage and event-driven peaks highlights fibre’s ability to support New Zealanders’ increasing data demands.
Understanding fibre uptake and copper retirement
Fibre uptake is reported by Chorus as a percentage, by area, and the company tracks it alongside copper lines as customers shift between the two. Copper retirement refers to the ongoing disconnection of copper lines.
A total of 4,000 copper lines were disconnected in the quarter, leaving approximately 40,000 services at the end of September. Almost all of those are outside the existing specified fibre area footprint.
Steady fibre uptake gains and the retirement of copper lines feed into the regulated revenue base that underpins the Chorus BBB credit rating, which S&P confirmed with a positive outlook in October 2026.
Supporting figures from the appendix at 30 September 2026:
- Total fibre addresses passed: 1,499,000
- Inactive fibre sockets: 254,000
- Fibre installations in the quarter: 12,000
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