One NZ scores worldwide first as Starlink direct-to-mobile launches

Monday, 23 December 2024, 11:32 am
Article: Bill Bennett

One NZ debuts Starlink service

One New Zealand is the first carrier in the world to offer a commercial satellite-to-mobile service using SpaceX’s Starlink constellation. It launched ahead of America’s T-Mobile which was widely expected to debut the service.

The move means One NZ squeaked in and fulfilled its advertised promise to offer New Zealanders 100 percent coverage in 2024 – albeit on a technicality.

This needs a generous interpretation of 100 percent coverage. The service only includes text messages, there can be a ten minute wait between suitably equipped passing satellites and the range of phones able to use the service is extremely limited.

Earlier this year, One NZ's 100 percent coverage claim landed the company in the criminal court.

Chalk up a big win for One NZ

Nevertheless, the service One is branding as ‘Satellite TXT’ is an achievement.

The company says the initial service will improve over time as SpaceX launches more suitably equipped satellites. It expects to add voice calling and data although not in the immediate future.

One NZ is contacting customers who are eligible for the service. There is no extra cost to use the service for One NZ customers on consumer pay monthly plans and some business mobile plans.

Limited phone support

For now, only four phones are covered. The Oppo Find X8 Pro, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6, Z Fold6 and S24 Ultra. One says this list will expand over the year. Apple’s iPhone is a notable absentee, but New Zealand iPhone users can use Apple’s satellite-based emergency service.

One NZ says its testing found that most text messages will send and receive in three minutes, but there can be a wait of 10 minutes or even longer.

Joe Goddard, the company’s experience and commercial director says the service “...has the potential to provide another layer of resilience in public emergencies when traditional mobile and fixed networks are affected, like what happened during Cyclone Gabrielle”.

Oppo Find X8 Pro connecting to One New Zealand’s Satellite TXT service.

Oppo Find X8

Oppo New Zealand says its Find X8 Pro is one of the select band of mobile phones that is ready to work with One New Zealand’s Satellite TXT service. It says:

Text capability, will be the first to launch, with voice and basic data to follow.

The company says it invested heavily in research and development to make sure the new phone would have satellite capability in place for One NZ’s launch.

ComCom considers limited fibre deregulation

Four of the seven fibre services regulated by the Commerce Commission could soon be deregulated although there are still many hoops to jump through before this happens.

The Commerce Commission says it is investigating the need for regulating voice and transport services provided in all fibre areas along with point-to-point and co-location services delivered outside the Chorus fibre footprint.

Telecommunications commissioner Tristan Gilbertson says regulation needs to stay in place for the bitstream core fibre broadband service delivered to premises nationwide. “The predominant competing technology, 4G-wireless, just doesn’t get close enough – but we recognise this could change, potentially quickly, with the roll out and uptake of 5G-wireless broadband services. We’ll be watching this space closely.”

The Commerce Commission says there is a separate investigation looking at deregulating copper services in rural areas and mobile termination rates.

ComCom increases Chorus’ revenue cap 24 percent to $4.1 billion

New revenue and quality standards announced by the Commerce commission mean Chorus will now be able to earn up to $4.1 billion over the next four years.

This represents a 25 percent increase from an earlier provisional figure of $3.3 billion for the period from January 1 2025 to December 31 2028.

These networks are now regulated through a price-quality and information disclosure regime, introduced in 2022, following amendments to the Telecommunications Act.

Amended Telecommunications Act behind the regulations

Under the 2022 amendments to the Telecommunications Act, the Commerce Commission now regulates Chorus through price-quality and information disclosures. New Zealand’s three other fibre wholesale companies, Enable, NorthPower and Tuatahi First Fibre, face the information disclosure regulations but not the price-quality part.

In practice this means the regulator gets to decide how much revenue Chorus can make. Its calculations include approving the fibre wholesaler’s expenditure plans. The original figure was updated to reflect factors such as inflation and also allows for market growth.

The thinking behind this is to make sure the companies act in the best interests of consumers while maintaining market competition.

Consumer protection

Telecommunications commissioner Tristan Gilbertson says: “The revenue cap we’ve set is another protection for consumers because it helps to constrain prices at an absolute level and phases the recovery of revenue in a way that eases the cost burden by around $250 million over this regulatory period. This smoothing of revenue is important given current cost pressures on Kiwi consumers.

“We’ve also enhanced the quality standards Chorus must meet. This locks-in the level of performance consumers have come to expect and prevents back-sliding by Chorus.”

“The fibre regime is doing its job by encouraging Chorus to invest ahead of demand in critical national infrastructure while protecting the interests of consumers in terms of price and quality”.

Aussies split upper 6GHz spectrum band

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has addressed competing claims by splitting the upper 6GHz spectrum band between radio local area network (RLAN) and wide-area wireless broadband (WA WBB) applications.

Spectrum from 6425-6585 MHz is allocated for RLAN use, effectively extending WiFi channel flexibility.

The spectrum from 6585-7100 MHz is reserved for WA WBB in metropolitan and regional centres. This depends on a viable market for equipment operating at these frequencies and what happens with regulation in other international markets.

Fresh legislation to cover NZ satellite ground stations

Space minister Judith Collins says the government will move next year to introduce new legislation to manage the risks posed by satellite ground stations.

She says the stations present important commercial and defence opportunities for New Zealand. “The new regulations are intended to prevent the establishment or use of ground-based space infrastructure in New Zealand by entities that do not share our values or interests.”

The Security Intelligence Service has reportedly identified proposals for space infrastructure with potential military applications, despite claims of civilian use.

Collins says MBIE, The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, will develop the regulations that will apply to all ground-based space infrastructure including any that is already established.

Brennan and Shea join Network for Learning board

Rārangi Utu ā-Mātauranga-Education Payroll director Deidre Shea has joined the Network for Learning board along with Tony Brennan who is an independent director of Education Services Australia. The pair replace Clare Curran, a former communications minister retiring from the board, and Anthony Briscoe, the late former CEO of Southern Cross Cable Networks.

Besides Brennan and Shea, the N4L board includes chair Jeremy Banks, deputy chair Sharon Creswell, Elle Archer and Ming-chun Wu.

In other news...

Sold: Orion Health snapped up by Canadian health AI firm Healwell
Rob O'Neill at Reseller News:

Toronto-based AI company Healwell has sealed a $200 million deal to acquire Auckland-based healthtech developer Orion Health, minus assets considered non-strategic.

The deal will see Healwell acquire all of the shares of Orion Health, following the concurrent divestiture of Orion Health’s non-strategic assets, for an aggregate purchase price of $175 million plus a performance-based earn out of up to a further $25 million.

Niwa goes Vast for improved forecasts and risk calculations
iStart’s Heather Wright reports that New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research is updating and future-proofing its data infrastructure and gearing up for an AI boost.

NCSC releases Cyber Security Insights Report for Q3 2024
Direct from the Government Communications Security Bureau online security team:

Incidents of unauthorised access almost doubled, highlighting the need for us to secure all our online accounts. Phishing and harvesting credentials also increased by 70 percent, showing that cybercriminals are actively trying to get a foot in the door by tricking you into clicking on phishing links.

These days online crime is less about securing systems with walls or moats and more about training people so they aren’t tricked into letting the drawbridge down.

Lets close the digital divide by 2030! how you can help
IT Professionals CEO Vic MacLennan calls on her members and the wider community to help get the most vulnerable members of society online. It’s a cause most of us can get behind.

Europe signs off on €10.6B IRIS² satellite broadband deal
At The Register Richard Speed writes:

A competitor for the Starlink satellite broadband constellation is on the way after Eurocrats signed the concession contract for the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²).

By the time this competitor opens for business Starlink will have been doing business for close to a decade, which puts Europe a long way behind.

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Bill Bennett

Freelance journalist.

Auckland-based Bill Bennett writes technology and business stories that are directly relevant to New Zealand readers.

His emphasis is on telecommunications, but he also covers other aspects of technology and business. You can find his features in the New Zealand Herald and hear him regularly on RNZ Nine to Noon and the NZ Tech Podcast.

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