The Christchurch suburb of Halswell has become the first in the city to get ultra-fast internet broadband.
A handful of Halswell residents have been trialing the new network over the past two months.
On Saturday, access to the network was opened to 5000 potential customers in the area as part of the Government's $1.5 billion nationwide fibre broadband initiative.
Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams says the release gives the quake-hit city a much needed boost.
Halswell resident Bryan Adams, one of those involved in the trial of ultra-fast broadband, said it was much faster and more consistent than conventional broadband.
Next in line are the suburbs of Papanui and Bishopdale which will get the new network over the next three months.
