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New Zealands' Telecom Launches 3G

9th November , 2004

New Zealand : Telecom today launched its 3G Mobile Broadband network and is expecting strong demand from businesses and consumers.

“The network upgrade will underpin a raft of next generation mobile services Telecom is calling ‘T3G’ and will ensure New Zealanders are right at the forefront of the global innovations in mobile communications,” said Kevin Kenrick, General Manager for Mobile at Telecom.

The first new T3G service is called Mobile Broadband. It enables Telecom customers who are away from their offices to send and receive email, download business information, organise appointments and access the internet via laptops and handheld devices at unprecedented high speeds.

The new Mobile Broadband network will download data up to 15 times faster than the existing 027 network – which is already the fastest mobile data network in New Zealand – and up to six times faster than UMTS based services expected to be offered by Telecom’s competitors some time next year.

“Mobile Broadband allows you to connect remotely to your email and the Internet as fast as a fixed line Broadband connection,” Kenrick said.

“Mobile Broadband is a whole new ball game. Like the step from dial-up to broadband, it will fundamentally change the way New Zealanders use mobile technology and make it practical to work away from the office at speeds that enhance rather than inhibit efficiency.

“It makes remote working really work.”

Telecom’s Mobile Broadband service already covers the Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch regions, and before Christmas will cover key holiday and business destinations including Taupo, Coromandel, Queenstown and Wanaka. Beyond these areas customers will seamlessly switch to Telecom’s nationwide 027 network.

Telecom has invested about $NZ40 million on its Mobile Broadband network which is based on the super-fast EV-DO (Evolution Data Optimised) technology delivered in partnership with Lucent Technologies, who provide design, software and management for Telecom’s 027 network

According to Lucent New Zealand General Manager Jonathan van Smit, the EV-DO network upgrade demonstrates how Lucent was able to leverage its international technology leadership to deliver world class services for Telecom mobile customers.

‘More for Less’ Data Pricing

Mobile Broadband combines a dramatic improvement in performance with an equally dramatic reduction in cost for Telecom customers. A range of new subscription based pricing plans of 100, 200 and 500 megabytes per month provide significant cost reductions in mobile data usage and cost certainty for users.

Furthermore, all of the new pricing plans include usage of Telecom’s wireless hotspot network. Telecom has currently deployed 70 wireless hot spots at hotels, airports and business convention centres across the country and this will expand to 200 by the end of 2004.

Special migration deals will be offered to existing Mobile JetStream data customers with recommended pricing plans tailored to suit their needs and usage levels.

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