CityLink

By CIO New Zealand staff | Monday, January 11 2010

CityLink is arguably New Zealand’s pioneer fibre-optic provider, having been formed in 1995 as part of Wellington City Council’s InfoCity Strategy.

HQ: Wellington
Website: www.citylink.co.nz
Global leader: Neil de Wit, CEO
Core activity: Broadband infrastructure provider
Revenue: NZ$11 million (FY09)
Key customers: Weta Digital, TVNZ, 2 Degrees, Wellington City Council
Employees: 35

CityLink is arguably New Zealand’s pioneer fibre-optic provider, having been formed in 1995 as part of Wellington City Council’s InfoCity Strategy. Since then, the company has diversified from stringing fibre-optic cables along the overhead network used for Wellington’s electric trolley buses, into providing wi-fi hotspots around the city as well, and operating internet peering exchanges in Wellington and Auckland.

The company is privately owned by mobile radio operator TeamTalk and delivers approximately 2000 products and services to around 1000 customers and organisations. Among the products on offer is the Harmony platform for broadcasting television and radio over the internet, and the PublicLAN/PrivateLAN Metro Ethernet service in Wellington.

CityLink’s first cab out of the rank status amongst New Zealand’s fibre operators is expected to stand it in good stead as the government launches its ultra-fast broadband initiative next year. The company is facing increased competition from telcos though, and has to lift its profile.