Chorus boosts profit as fibre use rises, predicts AI will drive up earnings

New Zealand's telecommunications provider Chorus has experienced a notable boost in profit as its revenue increased due to a rise in fibre usage and controlled expenses. The company continues to roll out its all-fibre strategy, with more connections and increased consumer spending contributing to the growth. Chorus CEO Mark Aue highlighted the company's progress toward a simpler, more focused business while investing in critical digital infrastructure for New Zealand's future.

During the past financial year, Chorus added approximately 32,000 fibre connections, bringing the total to 1,147,000. Data usage also grew by about 9 percent. Aue noted that based on global trends, artificial intelligence and data centre growth are likely to drive up earnings, positioning fibre as a key driver of future demand. As connectivity becomes increasingly essential for various aspects of life, Chorus is focusing on practical methods to facilitate wider access to and benefits from fibre connections.

Copper phone lines continued to be phased out, with an additional 48,000 disconnections, while the company aims to retire copper from the network ahead of its earlier 2028 deadline. There remain around 44,000 copper connections nationwide, primarily in areas where fibre is not available. Chorus anticipates a slight increase in operating earnings and dividend payouts. The CEO emphasized that the future is increasingly digital, AI-enabled, and dependent on fibre, positioning Chorus uniquely to drive that future.