With data use continuing to increase, One NZ is also continuing to upgrade its mobile network.
What changed.
Between January and March 2026, the technology team upgraded 57 cell sites across Aotearoa, including 29 new site builds, while expanding 5G to 50 more locations - helping to bring faster, more reliable connectivity where it matters most.
These upgrades were delivered across the motu, from our major urban centres of Auckland and Christchurch to regional towns and rural areas across Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and the West Coast. This includes ongoing work delivered in partnership with the Rural Connectivity Group (RCG), helping to extend terrestrial mobile coverage to more remote parts of the country.
For our customers, that means a more consistent experience in more places, and a network that's better able to handle growing demand.
How One NZ is improving the network.
But strengthening the network today isn't just about building more sites, it's about being New Zealand's telco and offering connectivity where it is needed most.
One NZ's approach is increasingly focused on smarter infrastructure - combining physical investment with technology that helps the network adapt and respond in real time. This includes aiming to build more self-healing capabilities, where parts of the network can automatically detect and resolve issues, helping reduce disruption for customers.
At the same time, managed network services are supporting businesses with more reliable, tailored connectivity, while One NZ Satellite* services have extended coverage beyond traditional mobile reach — enabling messaging and calling via WhatsApp in New Zealand's most remote locations.
These technologies are improving reliability, extending reach, and delivering a better experience for customers wherever they are - now and into the future.
Checking network coverage.
To help identify where improvements are needed most, customers can use One Pin, to ‘drop a pin’ in areas where they experience dropped calls, slow speeds, or no connectivity.
The more pins dropped in a location, the higher the priority for upgrades.
To learn more or to check coverage in your area, visit https://one.nz/network/coverage/
*One NZ Satellite Terms: TXT/MMS in minutes and use data on select apps. Limited app functionality. Paid Add-On may apply Terms, standard MMS charges, fair use and capacity control apply, see: https://one.nz/satellite/