New Zealand's fibre network provider's feeling the pinch, but still proposing new projects

Chorus has reported its first-half net loss of five million dollars - and its shares also dropped for the first time in a year.

Chief Executive Mark Aue says the soft economy drew customers to cheaper plans - and the drop-off in property development hit installation revenue.

He says they're now proposing expanding the urban Ultrafast Broadband fibre network - and bringing fibre to 1500 low-income households.

Aue says recent statistics show nearly 400-thousand households in New Zealand can't afford meaningful digital access.