Update on Spark mobile network following Gisborne crash

Monday, 12 December 2016, 4:30 pm
Press Release: Spark

Update on Spark mobile network, following fatal light plane crash and subsequent power outage in Gisborne today

Following a fatal light plane crash and a subsequent power outage in the Gisborne area, Spark has been closely monitoring and actively managing its mobile network in the region.

As at 4.00pm there are four cell-sites down (Riverdale, Patutahi, Gisborne City and Awapuni) and there are five mobile cell-sites running on back-up battery power. Customers may experience degraded or intermittent mobile performance as a result. The team is in the process of deploying generators to high priority cell sites in order to protect service as a matter of urgency.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Local authorities have advised that the power outage may take some time to resolve. In the event of extended power outages we recommend that customers in the area conserve mobile phone battery life and use Voice and SMS services rather than data if possible.

For further information on the power outage, we recommend people monitor Civil Defence, Eastland Network or Gisborne Council communications channels

For further information on Spark, customers can contact us via:

Customer Care - 123
Customer Care (small and medium business) – 0800 110 062
Spark Digital Customers – please contact your Client Manager

Additional Background:

Mobile cell towers and access cabinets feeding these cell sites depend on a power source for the provision of both the cell site equipment and the back-haul services back to the cellular networks.

Mobile towers have backup battery power but battery life has a finite limit which can be affected by traffic volumes. Generators are deployed as an alternative power source and cell-sites are prioritised according to coverage and traffic volume.

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