• One NZ customers sent over 10,000 messages a day through the satellite network over the last week
• Over 450 Starlink direct to mobile satellites now in space mean average time to send / receive a TXT through space is improving to within minutes
• 23 handsets now eligible with more in testing

New Zealanders have been putting One NZ Satellite to the test, with over 300,000 customers now eligible to text through space at no extra cost.

Joe Goddard, Experience & Commercial Director at One NZ, says: “We were stoked to be the first telco in the world to launch a nationwide satellite text service in December – following successful tests during emergency situations in the USA.

“The service is improving each week as Starlink launches more satellites, reducing the time it takes to send and receive a TXT. Engineers from both Starlink and One NZ continue to work together to refine the real-world experience through extensive field testing.

“With the service included on all our in-market pay monthly plans and the increased range of phones now available on the network, we are confident that both individuals and businesses across New Zealand will benefit from the peace of mind that our satellite coverage will bring them as they travel to areas of our country where terrestrial mobile coverage is not possible or feasible.

“The take up of the service has been exciting to see, with over 10,000 messages a day going through the network in the last week, and that number is growing as we open the service to more phones.”

More phones to come to improve safety outcomes

One NZ wants to continue to rapidly expand device eligibility, Goddard explains. “Providing additional coverage for New Zealanders means we can play a difference when it matters most. It is a responsibility that we take really seriously.

“We’ve all seen the media stories where trampers or boaties get into trouble in remote locations, and I think about the difference a phone with our satellite service could have made to the outcome.”

Safety net in space

Resiliency is another outcome of this new service. “In addition to covering blackspots in remote areas, One NZ Satellite provides coverage resilience in areas already served by our cell network, in the event of a natural disaster or the power going out. The benefit of having a safety net in space for vital communications was clearly demonstrated in both the devastating hurricanes and wildfires in the US recently.

“The reality is, One NZ is the only place to be if you want to stay in touch with loved ones or your workforce, should the worst occur and the cell towers on the ground lose power.”

“We’re working at pace to make coverage like never before a reality for more New Zealanders.”

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Terms:

Initial beta TXT service rolling out on a limited number of eligible phones with an eligible plan. See one.nz/SpaceX. TXT only and requires line of sight to the sky. Service limitations, network performance, phone and plan eligibility will improve over time. Delivery times of TXT via satellite will be slower than traditional TXT. Terms, fair use and capacity management apply.