Announcement
GENERAL: SPK: Spark announces 5G rollout plan into 2020 & network vendors
08:30am
SPK
18/11/2019 08:30
GENERAL
NOT PRICE SENSITIVE
REL: 0830 HRS Spark New Zealand Limited
GENERAL: SPK: Spark announces 5G rollout plan into 2020 & network vendors
MARKET RELEASE
18 November 2019
Spark announces 5G roll out plans into 2020 and network vendors
o 5G roll out for further heartland regional and major centres in 2020
o Roster of technology vendors confirmed in line with multi-vendor strategy
Spark today outlined the next phases of its progressive roll out of 5G
services. Spark will deliver 5G wireless broadband into five more South
Island heartland locations prior to Christmas, followed by further heartland
communities from March 2020. A broader range of 5G services, covering both
mobile as well as wireless broadband, will launch into major centres from mid
2020, subject to spectrum being made available by the Government.
This builds upon Spark's announcement in September that it had switched-on
the first 5G customer services in New Zealand, with the launch of 5G wireless
broadband in Alexandra.
Mark Beder, Spark's Technology Director said wireless broadband is the first
meaningful use-case for 5G in New Zealand and is the focus for the initial
phase of Spark's 5G roll out.
"Our 5G roll out approach is two-fold. Firstly, we are advancing our network
delivery plans so we can roll out quickly in major centres once the necessary
spectrum becomes available. Secondly, we're innovating by repurposing some of
our existing spectrum to deliver 5G wireless broadband in places where it
will make a real difference to customers," Beder said.
"We are prioritising our activity to heartland locations as we think these
are the places that will benefit most from the increased capacity and speed
of 5G wireless broadband, and we are excited to be bringing the early
benefits of 5G to customers in parts of New Zealand that have usually lagged
well behind the major centres for previous technology rollouts.
"The roll-out of 5G wireless broadband to heartland locations from March 2020
will use some of our existing spectrum bands and Nokia Radio Access Network
(RAN)* equipment; in a continuation of our partnership with Nokia who
assisted with the launch of 5G services in Alexandra. Nokia will also be our
partner for the other heartland locations that will be launched before
Christmas."
Rajesh Singh, Spark's General Manager of Value Management said that, in line
with its previously-stated multi-vendor strategy, Spark now has three
companies - Nokia, Samsung and Huawei - on its roster of preferred RAN
equipment suppliers for 5G. In addition, Spark will continue to use Cisco
and Ericsson for separate elements of its existing Network Core, which has
already been upgraded to ensure it is Non-Standalone (NSA) 5G capable.
"We've consistently said our approach to 5G will be multi-vendor. A key
reason for this is that 5G technology is still emerging and is likely to
develop significantly in the next few years, so a mix of vendors makes
sense," Singh said.
"As with any network deployment the roll-out of our 5G network is subject to
government approval in accordance with the Telecommunications (Interception
Capability and Security) Act 2013 (TICSA). We have already obtained approval
through TICSA to use Nokia 5G RAN equipment for our recently announced
deployment in Alexandra, and for our upcoming locations before Christmas. We
have withdrawn our original TICSA application, which proposed a single-vendor
5G RAN strategy. We will work through the TICSA approval process in due
course with our other RAN vendors, prior to any deployment of their
equipment."
- ENDS -
Notes:
*There are three parts to a telecommunications system:
o User's phone or device
o The RAN (Radio Access Network) - includes the cell towers, antennas and
backhaul (fibre connection to the core), as well as the radio connection to a
user's phone or device.
o The Network Core - the central processing functions that authenticate user
devices, provide real-time charging for services, and connect users to other
networks such as the internet, fixed phones, or other mobile networks
For media queries, please contact:
Arwen Vant
Corporate Relations Partner
+64 (0) 21 484 232
For investor relations queries, please contact:
Dean Werder
Finance Lead Partner, Product and Performance
+64 (0) 27 259 7176
End CA:00344396 For:SPK Type:GENERAL Time:2019-11-18 08:30:29
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