Telecommunications in New Zealand

Telecommunications in New Zealand are fairly typical for an industrialised country.

Fixed-line broadband and telephone services are largely provided through copper-based networks, although fibre-based services are increasingly common. Spark New Zealand, Vodafone New Zealand, 2degrees and the Callplus group provide most services.

Mobile telephone services are provided by Spark, Vodafone and 2degrees, although a number of smaller mobile virtual network operators also exist.

Telephones

• Country calling code: 64
  • The same code is also used to reach Scott Base in Antarctica and the United States base McMurdo Station nearby.
• Mobile phone system:
  • Number of mobile connections: 4.7 million (2010)
  • Coverage available to approx 97% of the population.
  • Operators:
    • 2degrees (operating GSM, UMTS and LTE)
      • Virtual network operators: Warehouse Mobile (owned by The Warehouse Group)^[1]
    • Spark New Zealand (operating UMTS, HSDPA and LTE)^[2]
      • Virtual network operators: Skinny (owned by Spark NZ), Digital Island,^[3] CallPlus/Slingshot,^[4] Compass^[5]
    • Vodafone New Zealand (operating GSM, UMTS, HSDPA and LTE)^[6]
      • Virtual network operators: Black+White,^[7] Orcon,^[8] M2^[9]
• Fixed-line telephone system:
  • Number of fixed line connections: 1.92 million (2000)
  • Individual lines available to 99% of residences.
  • Operators:
    • Chorus Limited
      • A large numbers of ISPs (referred to as "retail service providers") retail Chorus' connections to personal and business customers. Chorus does not retail internet connections.
• Cable and microwave links:
  • Domestic:
    • optical fibre and microwave links between cities
    • submarine optical fibre cables between North Island and South Island.
  • International:
    • Submarine cables:
      • Southern Cross Cable (to Australia and Hawaii)
      • TASMAN 2 (Australia-New Zealand)
      • Tasman Global Access (proposed)^[10]
      • Moana Cable (proposed)^[10]
      • Hawaiki Cable (proposed)^[10]
    • Satellite earth stations: 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio

• Radio broadcast stations: AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998), 4 on Freeview digital satellite.
  • See also: List of radio stations in New Zealand
• Radios: 3.75 million (1997)

Television

• Television broadcast stations: 41 (plus 52 medium-power repeaters and over 650 low-power repeaters) (1997)
  • These transmit 4 nationwide free-to-air networks and a few regional or local single transmitter stations. Analogue to be phased out by end of 2013.
  • Digital Satellite pay TV is also available and carries most terrestrial networks.
  • Freeview digital free satellite with a dozen SD channels, with SD feeds of the terrestrial HD freeview channels.
  • Freeview, free-to-air digital terrestrial HD and SD content.
  • Cable TV is available in some urban areas with Vodafone's broadband services.
  • See also: List of New Zealand television channels
• Televisions: 1.926 million (1997)

Internet

• Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 36 (2000)
• Internet users: 2.11 million (2002)
• Fixed internet connections: 1.24 million (2013)
• Country code (Top level domain): .nz

Telecommunications Development Levy

The government charges a $50 million Telecommunications Development Levy annually to fund improvements to communications infrastructure such as the Rural Broadband Initiative. It is payable by telecommunications firms with an operating revenue of over $10 million, in proportion to their qualified revenue.^[11]

See also

• Economy of New Zealand

References

1. https://www.warehousemobile.co.nz/
2. "Telecom New Zealand Website – Information about mobile network". Archived from the original on 8 March 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
3. http://www.digitalisland.co.nz/products/mobile+phones+plans.html
4. Putt, Sarah (29 September 2011). "CallPlus switches from Vodafone to Telecom for mobile". Computer World. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
5. http://www.compass.net.nz/mobile/
6. Vodafone NZ Website – Information about mobile network and 4G LTE
7. http://www.bw.co.nz/
8. Orcon. "Orcon@Mobile Broadband and Phone Packages". Orcon. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
9. "More mobile choices for NZ". Stuff.co.nz. 8 September 2008. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
10. Ryan, Sophie (9 December 2015). "Here's what New Zealand's internet looks like". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
11. http://www.comcom.govt.nz/regulated-industries/telecommunications/tdl/2012-13-telecommunications-development-levy/

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document "2003 edition".