Check out our profile on the WISPA NZ website here
Ultimate Mobile Limited was started in 2009 by Michael & Joanne Smith to provide voice and mobile coverage solutions to customers throughout NZ with a desire to then develop into other communications markets.
Michael had worked in the communications industry for over 11 years, mostly in the Telecom dealer channel working primarily with business and rural customers. After seeing the limited offerings and challenges to rural customers and the opportunity to do something about this, Michael started Ultimate mobile taking the experience he obtained through years in the industry.
A real desire to help people
The company started as many start ups do, however with a passion for the industry and a real desire to help people, Michael created a coverage equipment brand and set out to distribute throughout NZ Telco stores.
Following the Feb 22 earthquake, 2011 saw a change of direction for Ultimate mobile, Michael & Joanne Smith bought out their business partners and took over the company so the original vision to provide more than just coverage solutions could be set in motion.
From here, Ultimate Broadband, UBB as we are now known was born.
The creation of Ultimate broadband or UBB as a WISP (Wireless Internet Provider) has seen the company grow rapidly in the last 9 years. UBB has built on it’s “customer service is key attitude” and is constantly going the extra mile to deliver a service where other larger less flexible or agile ISP’s or providers won’t try or are not interested. This has allowed the company to build a local focused and partnered network throughout Canterbury and beyond.
UBB operates its own wireless broadband network, through a series of hill top repeater sites and micro-sites in farming communities throughout the Canterbury region. This network has allowed UBB the opportunity to really develop a great rural broadband service and exciting new services for rural customers. Connecting Canterbury has been our goal and the network growth has been significant, expanding from Oxford in North Canterbury, Banks Peninsula and down through Mid and South Canterbury with coverage now to the Waitaki River.
As a Regional Rural Broadband partner of Crown Investment Partners, UBB has expanded and upgraded it’s network under the RBI 2 (Rural broadband Initiative 2) program, this expansion is due to be completed before Christmas 2021. This partnership has enabled UBB to both expand its network but also provide more capacity and speed for the ever growing demand for internet.
UBB is a full service Internet provider, with a full suite of solutions, our focus being the right solution always for every customer, we are not a cookie cutter provider. Our services include UFB fibre on Chorus & Enable networks, Rural and urban fibre on EA fibre (Electricity Ashburton) network in Mid Canterbury.
We offer nationwide connectivity with 4G wireless broadband on the rural RBI network and soon Metro 4G and 5G services as they become available.
We build and provide bespoke broadband or network connectivity solutions such as rest homes, MDU, new subdivisions, private farm and business connectivity networks, PtP linking and business direct services. We are also working to deliver an IOT (internet of things) infrastructure to be ready in 2021 and a Mobile service to offer an alternative to the current options, albeit using their networks.
Every new site, new home or business, every individual, family or workplace we provide a service to is another unique part of the UBB story. The fabric that makes our company, UBB great is the people, our UBB family, our team and our customers. We are proud to serve our region and make a difference, bridge the gap between town and country, one house or business at a time.
Why not join the UBB family!
Mike Smith (aka “Captain America”) CEO – UBB