Chorus (ASX:CNU) has achieved an operational turning point, reporting its first quarter-on-quarter increase in total connections since 2013.
According to the Q3 FY26 update covering Jan. 1 to March 31, the company reached a long-awaited "inflection point" where rapid fibre growth finally eclipsed the ongoing retirement of legacy copper lines.
Total fibre connections climbed to 1,142,000, adding approximately 13,000 new lines during the quarter.
The surge was sufficient to offset a total loss of 10,000 copper connections, resulting in a net gain of 3,000 fixed-line connections for the period.
The migration to high-speed infrastructure is accelerating, with fibre uptake across Chorus’ wider footprint rising to 73.1%.
While older UFB1 areas boast a 76% uptake, newer UFB2 zones reached 64%. This network expansion continues to be driven by insatiable consumer appetites for data.
Average monthly fibre usage hit 696GB in March—an 8% year-on-year increase—with peak demand spiking to 722GB in January.
Business data usage saw even more robust growth, jumping 19% compared to the previous year.
Meanwhile, the transition away from copper continues at pace. Only 53,000 copper lines remain in service nationwide, with the vast majority located outside existing fibre footprints.
In non-fibre areas, roughly 5,000 customers opted to migrate to alternative network options this quarter.
As Chorus passes an additional 3,000 addresses with fibre, the company's shift towards a purely digital, high-capacity future appears more cemented than ever.