New Zealand’s three mobile network operators have shut down their 3G networks after preparing for several years, including investing in a year-long public awareness campaign to let customers know what was going on.
The focus of the campaign was on letting customers know what was happening and what the impact would be on their connections. It went well. Customers engaged, asked questions and migrated to new devices where needed. The feedback has been positive and the number of complaints about the shutdown has been minimal.
But recently there have been a flurry of comments made relating to 3G, and I wanted to address some of the comments that have popped up about what switching off 3G has, and more importantly has not, produced.
The decision to shut down 3G is being made all around the world and is driven by two factors: customers want more speed and more security in their connections. Newer technologies – 4G and 5G – offer faster speeds, lower latency, lower power consumption and higher levels of security.
Each of the three telcos worked to upgrade 3G only towers to support 4G and 5G technology, as well as building additional tower and boosting capacity where needed. Coverage footprint across New Zealand has increased in the past decade, not decreased. However, that doesn’t mean the new network footprint is exactly the same as the old. While the vast majority of areas that had 3G now have 4G / 5G, different frequencies and different technologies create slightly different coverage patterns.
That doesn’t mean the new network footprint is exactly the same as the old. Different frequencies and different technologies mean you’ll get different coverage patterns.
If anyone needs help with their coverage, the best thing they can do is contact their telco. They can investigate the situation and, if needed, look at alternative connectivity options such as satellite or Voice over Wi-Fi. Networks are constantly fine-tuned and if you’re having problems letting your telco know is the first step towards getting a resolution.
Each telco is now working to maximise their 4G and 5G network footprints and will continue to fine tune their networks as more towers are added. Over the next decade we expect to add around 1500 new towers to the nation’s fleet to increase capacity beyond today’s levels.
Mobile networks today reach between ~98.5 – 99% of where New Zealanders live and work. But Aotearoa’s terrain includes vast, rugged, and sparsely populated areas that people love to visit, but where fewer people live year-round. Extending coverage into these regions often requires a balance between investment and population density, which is why delivering connectivity in some remote areas relies on co-investment. Through public–private partnerships with successive governments, telcos have continued to expand rural connectivity. This collaboration has delivered more than 500 cell towers built in the most remote parts of the country, providing much needed 4G coverage in places that wouldn’t be viable to build without that shared investment.
This public-private partnership has seen more than 500 cell towers built in the most remote parts of the country, providing much needed 4G coverage in places that aren’t economic for the telcos to build without support.
If you do have problems with your mobile service the first thing to do is contact your provider and talk to them. Networks are constantly fine tuned and if you’re having problems letting your telco know is the first step towards getting a resolution. And if your provider can’t offer a service, there are others who can. Shop around, you’ll be amazed at what’s available out there today in both mobile and fixed line.
On top of all that there is a new player in town as well. Technology has advanced hugely in the past two or three years with the arrival of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites. LEO satellites offer the ability to cover those remote areas that are not economic to roll out terrestrial networks and provide coverage in places that have never had reception before.
As more satellites are sent into orbit we’ll see the current service – largely a fixed broadband product – expand into the mobile space, first with text messaging and later with data and even potentially voice calling. We’ll see the evolution of the customer device from a satellite dish and router into a mobile phone that will connect via 4G, 5G, wifi, Bluetooth and also LEO satellite.
All this is already happening and we’re seeing services come online today. All of it means rural connectivity is more advanced than ever before and rural customers can get online from all kinds of places around the country.
