One New Zealand completes 28 mobile network upgrades

One New Zealand completed 28 mobile network upgrades and new site builds in the past quarter, including 22 projects that extended 5G coverage.

The other six were new Rural Connectivity Group sites designed to improve mobile access in rural parts of New Zealand.

Between July and September, the 5G work included eight new site builds and 14 upgrades to existing sites across Auckland, Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and the West Coast.

Locations ranged from Paihia and Kaitaia in the north to Queenstown and Wānaka in the south, covering growing communities, urban areas, regional centres and tourist destinations.

Network spend

By the end of September, One New Zealand had completed work on 109 mobile network sites during 2026. That included 61 new site builds, 86 sites with coverage improvements and 91 sites where 5G had been added, alongside upgrades to its core network.

The operator invested about NZD $100 million in its mobile network and supporting infrastructure in FY26. The spending followed the shutdown of legacy 3G networks and was part of a wider programme covering both cities and rural areas.

Demand for mobile data and pressure on network capacity have continued to rise, prompting operators to expand coverage and capacity in high-use areas. The latest round of work was intended to improve coverage, increase capacity in busy locations and widen access to 5G services.

Some locations were selected after customers reported reception problems through the One Pin reporting tool. The service lets users report poor mobile reception or no connectivity by marking locations on a map.

Rural reach

The six new Rural Connectivity Group sites add to efforts to improve service outside major population centres. Rural connectivity remains a priority for New Zealand's telecoms sector because of the country's geography and persistent gaps in mobile coverage beyond towns and transport corridors.

One New Zealand also pointed to satellite-based mobile services as a complement to ground-based network infrastructure in areas without conventional coverage. According to the company, satellite connectivity extends reach across about 40% of New Zealand's landmass outside traditional mobile coverage, as well as up to 85 nautical miles offshore.

Its satellite data service allows customers with eligible phones and plans to use selected applications, including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Google Maps, when they have a clear line of sight to the sky.

Regional focus

The latest work highlights how network investment is being directed not only at the largest cities but also at regional centres and remote communities. That includes a mix of new towers, upgrades to existing infrastructure and targeted work to support newer network standards such as 5G.

That balance is becoming more important as consumers expect stronger coverage and more consistent speeds while using data-intensive services. Coverage expansion and capacity upgrades are also increasingly tied to demand in tourist areas and fast-growing communities, where seasonal peaks and population shifts can put pressure on networks.

During 2026, One New Zealand added 5G technology to 91 sites.