Vodafone New Zealand has selected Nokia Networks to enable the launch of its commercial 700 MHz LTE network, one of the first Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) 700 MHz networks in the world. The APT 700 MHz digital dividend spectrum band is harmonized across several countries in the Asia Pacific region.
“Our focus this year is about expanding our 4G network to rural New Zealand with 700MHz, and Nokia Networks will play an important part in implementing this initiative. We’ll be activating 4G wherever possible on new Rural Broadband Initiative sites this year,” stated Vodafone New Zealand Director of Technology, Sandra Pickering.
http://nsn.com/news-events/press-room/press-releases/nokia-networks-vodafone-roll-out-first-commercial-700-mhz-lte-network-in-new-zealand
In 2012, Vodafone acquire dTelstraClear from Telstra Corporation for NZ$840 million (£430 million, US$664 million) in cash. The deal included TelstraClear’s voice and data-based services, network infrastructure and New Zealand customer base.
Vodafone New Zealand was already the country’s largest mobile operator with more than 2.4 million customers. TelstraClear owned New Zealand’s second largest fixed infrastructure, which includes a 6,600km fibre backbone connecting 19 of the country’s largest cities. It also includes an extensive local access network with 2,000km of fibre and 4,500km of copper as well as a cable TV and broadband access network passing 150,000 homes in Wellington and Christchurch. Its customer base includes government and large corporations, small and medium enterprises as well as consumers.
