What’s changing?
New Zealand’s phone and broadband services are changing as older technologies are replaced.
Two related changes are happening:
- The copper network is being retired
- The traditional landline calling system (PSTN) is being switched off
These changes may both affect your household.
Copper network
The copper network delivers phone and broadband services through physical lines.
It is being retired as customers transition to newer technologies like fibre, fixed wireless and satellite.
Landline calling (PSTN)
The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is the traditional system used for landline phone calls.
Operated by Spark, the PSTN is now nearing end-of-life.
It is being switched off and replaced with digital calling services.
Do I need to do anything?
✅If you’ve been contacted by your provider
You’ll need to choose a new service before your current one is withdrawn.
⏳If you haven’t been contacted
You don’t need to do anything yet. Your provider will contact you before any changes are made.
❓If you’re not sure
Contact your provider or check what services are available at your address.
What this means for you
- Your connection may move from copper to fibre, wireless or another network
- Your landline will still work, but may use a different technology
- Calls may run through your internet connection instead of the traditional phone network
- You can usually keep your phone number
In many cases, both changes will happen at the same time.
Your options
Your provider will help you choose the most suitable option. Common options include:
Fibre
- Fast and reliable, available in most urban areas.
Fixed wireless
- Uses the mobile network. Often used where fibre is not available.
Satellite
- An option for rural or remote locations.
What happens next
- Your provider contacts you
- You choose a new service
- Your new service is installed
- Your copper and/or PSTN service is switched off
Frequently asked questions
When is this happening?
- In mostly urban areas where fibre is already available, the Copper Withdrawal programme has been underway since 2021.
- Chorus will be retiring all copper services in fibre areas by the end of 2026.
- As Chorus looks to retire the copper network nationwide by 2028, it’s working with service providers on co-ordinated transition plans for the remaining addresses still on copper in areas where fibre isn’t available.
- Affected properties will get plenty of notice but now could be a good time to look at alternative technology options
Will my landline still work?
Yes — but it may work differently.
- Your phone may connect through your internet service
- It may plug into a modem instead of a wall jack
- Calls may run over fibre or wireless networks
You can usually keep your existing phone number.
Will my phone work during a power outage?
- All phone and internet technology needs power, including traditional copper landlines which rely on power at a local cabinet or exchange. If power outages are a concern,
- you may want to consider a back-up power source at your place, such as batteries or even generators in some cases.
- For even more resilience, consider mobile phones, which are a great alternative to landline connections and have their own battery.
What about medical alarms or other devices?
Some devices may need to be updated in order to work on modern networks, including:
- Medical alarms
- Security systems
- Fax machines
- EFTPOS terminals
If you use any of these:
- Check with your device provider
- Talk to your telecommunications provider
- Allow time to upgrade equipment if needed
What protections are in place
There are rules in place to support consumers during this transition.
- You must receive advance notice (typically at least 4 months)
- You must be given information about your options
- Copper can only be withdrawn where suitable alternatives are available
Additional support
If you’re affected by the copper changes, there is plenty of information is available online to help.
If you have concerns about the process you can contact the TCF or the Commerce Commission.
If you are unhappy with the decision you can contact the Telecommunications Dispute Resolution service (TDR).