Blog Post: End of an Era: Chorus Copper Switch-off Copper Landline Replacement NZ - Cabinets Go Dark as NZ Moves to Fibre
- Timothy Kemp
- Jun 22
- 2 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
End of an Era: Chorus Copper Cabinets Go Dark as NZ Moves to Fibre
For over 15 years, Chorus transformed thousands of dull, grey telecommunications cabinets across New Zealand into vibrant community artworks. These murals brightened neighbourhoods, showcasing local culture and creativity. But now, as New Zealand transitions to ultra-fast fibre networks and SIP phone systems, Chorus has officially ended its cabinet art initiative.
The Changing Face of New Zealand’s Telecom Infrastructure
Chorus partnered with local councils, artists, and community groups to decorate more than 14,000 telecom cabinets — the very boxes that housed the nation’s aging copper network. With fibre rollouts expanding nationwide, Chorus is shifting focus and funding towards the future-ready full-fibre broadband infrastructure.
“We get requests every day from communities not yet connected to fibre, so we’ve made the decision to focus on expanding UFB (Ultra-Fast Broadband),” said Chorus’s community relations lead.
What This Means for Communities and Artists
The end of the cabinet art programme leaves a creative void. These artworks were not only decorative but helped reduce graffiti and vandalism, strengthening community identity. While this chapter closes, it reflects a bigger picture — New Zealand’s digital future is fibre and SIP-based, not copper.
Preparing for the Copper Switch-Off
As copper phone lines and broadband networks are decommissioned, businesses, schools, charities, and community centres must prepare for a technology shift. Legacy copper infrastructure will be replaced by ultra-fast fibre internet and modern SIP-based VoIP phone systems.
How Siptrix Systems Can Help Your Organisation
At Siptrix Systems, we help organisations across New Zealand transition smoothly. Whether you’re a school, charity, or multi-site business, we provide:
Full fibre internet connections with high uptime and reliability
SIP trunking and hosted PBX systems to replace outdated copper landlines
Comprehensive audits to identify copper dependencies
Future-proof telecom solutions for voice, video, and cloud services
Assistance with number porting and hardware upgrades
Chorus Cabinet Art Raglan
Looking Forward
The copper network has served New Zealand for decades, but its time is ending. The cabinet art programme was a beautiful legacy — a symbol of community and connection. Now, it’s time to embrace a modern, resilient digital future with fibre and SIP technology.
Want to learn how your organisation can prepare for the copper switch-off?
