Better access to fast data services for Aria locals

Monday, 4 April 2016, 1:07 pm
Press Release: Spark NZ

Better access to fast data services for Aria locals

Aria residents and visitors to the town within the Waikato region can now do more with their mobile devices after a recent investment by Spark into the Government’s local Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) site to expand the coverage to the area.

More than $175,000 has been invested in the infrastructure needed to improve access to mobile services, and at the same time Spark has also delivered 4G to the site so customers in Aria and surrounding areas have access to fast mobile data.

General Manager of Networks Colin Brown says, “We’re giving customers living in Aria better access to mobile services so they can do things online, faster and easier, like sharing and downloading files while out and about and taking advantage of cloud-based software and services.”

Spark’s 4G coverage on the Aria RBI site utilises the 700MHz radio spectrum, which means customers in the area may be able to sign up to Spark’s Rural Wireless Broadband service.

Mr Brown says Spark’s significant investment in the 700MHz spectrum is vital to the success of Rural Wireless Broadband.

“We’ve invested heavily in the 700MHz spectrum, acquiring more of it than any of our competitors. It’s ideal for rural areas in particular because the signal can travel further from the cell site than other 4G frequencies.

“Our Rural Wireless Broadband product utilises the 700MHz spectrum to give customers fast, reliable and affordable internet access over the 4G mobile network. This is key for people living throughout regional and rural New Zealand who currently lack access to an adequate fixed internet service,” said Mr Brown.

Customers interested in learning more about Spark Rural Wireless Broadband can go to https://www.spark.co.nz/shop/internet/rural/

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Notes to editors:

Rural Wireless Broadband

Rural Wireless Broadband is a ‘plug and play’ solution using the 4G network to provide a fast broadband service to customers who have previously struggled to get adequate access to the internet. Customers can check their range of 4G coverage over 700MHz on the Spark website to see whether they are in an area suitable for Wireless Broadband.

Rural Broadband Initiative

Spark is co-locating on every one of the Government’s Rural Broadband Initiative sites where it doesn’t already have coverage. It has already co-located on over 95 RBI sites over the last three years across the regions and rural places of New Zealand, with plans to co-locate on around 20 more RBI sites over the next 12 months.

4G

Spark has extensive plans to roll out 4G to the regions of New Zealand on the 1800MHz and 700MHz spectrums within the next two years.The rollout of 4G kicked off in November 2013 and has since expanded from the main cities of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch & Dunedin to more than 200 locations around New Zealand.

Currently, Spark is focussed on extending its 4G coverage to more regions across New Zealand on the 700MHz spectrum – ideally suited to regional areas due to its greater reach - and on the 1800MHz spectrum.

Customers are able to access 4G on the 700MHz spectrum by using a 700-capable mobile device. For more information about 4G coverage in their area customers can go towww.spark.co.nz/coverage.

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