Telecom Boosts Its Network for Fieldays

MEDIA RELEASE

11 June 2014

Telecom Boosts Its Network for Fieldays

Telecom is supporting National Fieldays with its biggest ever mobile communications network build for a one off event – providing a combined network capability four and a half times that which was deployed for the Rugby World Cup 2011 final at Eden Park.

Telecom has deployed a complex mix of both 3G and 4G technology suitable to support more than 125,000 attendees over the four day event period at Mystery Creek Show Grounds.

Alex Lee, Mobile Network Capability Manager - Events says “This kind of capacity is required due to increased customer demand for data (especially in upload capability as people share their experiences on social media) and continuing new customer demand on the Telecom Mobile Network.”

The technology deployed at the event is equivalent to that of over 20 standard mobile sites, transmitting across multiple carriers of 3G on 850MHz, 2100MHz, and 4G LTE on 1800MHz, 2600MHz spectrum. Importantly the use of 700MHz at the event continues Telecom’s trial of 4G technology to the rural sector.

Grant McBeath, Telecom Retail GM Sales says “We're excited to see how our agribusiness customers can benefit from the faster speeds, better coverage and increased network capacity that 700MHz 4G will deliver for New Zealand's regions.”

Data traffic across the Telecom network increased by around 60% from March 2014 compared to March 2013. During recent major events, like the Bruce Springsteen concert in Auckland, Telecom have seen mobile uploads actually exceed download.

“As more people begin to use smart devices for things like watching video, using business apps, uploading photos and getting the most out of their music on Spotify, data speeds are going to become more and more important. 4G allows you to do all these things in seconds, and these faster speeds will quickly become the “new normal” for New Zealanders, just as 3G speeds did when they were introduced a few years ago.” McBeath says.

Telecom will be holding two 'kitchen-chat' style information sessions each day led by experts from the Telecom network team. The first session will lead a discussion around our networks, and what we're doing to improve connectivity beyond the major centres. The second session will provide an overview of the Telecom 700MHz spectrum trial in the Waikato and how this will allow Telecom to hit the ground running to deliver 4G beyond the major metropolitan centres once the auction process has concluded.

Ends

Note to editors:

1. To access Telecom 4G, customers need to be in a 4G coverage area and have a 4G-capable phone. 4G devices will seamlessly switch to Telecom’s 3G mobile network when customers leave the 4G coverage area.

2. A map of Telecom 3G and 4G coverage can be found here: http://www.telecom.co.nz/coverage

3. Telecom 4G coverage will initially use the 1800MHz spectrum, until the 700MHz spectrum becomes available later this year. To date, the economics of bringing fast mobile services to areas outside of the New Zealand main centres have been challenging, but the reallocation of the 700MHz spectrum will speed up the roll-out of these essential services significantly. The 700MHz spectrum delivers greater reach compared to other frequencies, making it more efficient to build and ideally suited for delivering 4G services in regional areas.

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