One NZ satellite texting hits one million message milestone

One NZ has reached a milestone of more than one million text messages sent via its satellite service in less than four months since launch.

The service, called One NZ Satellite, enabled over a million messages to be sent free of charge, providing coverage in areas previously without connectivity. This included a period during Cyclone Tam, when the service was made available to over one million customers as an emergency measure.

According to Joe Goddard, Experience and Commercial Director at One NZ, the achievement highlights the impact of satellite messaging on daily life for individuals and businesses. 

Goddard said, "A million messages is an epic milestone. That's a million times a Kiwi or Kiwi business has stayed in touch with a friend, colleague, or loved one when they previously couldn't, or stayed safer while enjoying our incredible country, or more productive as they get information that otherwise would have had to wait.

"These single moments all add up to a safer, more resilient and more productive New Zealand."

The company has broadened access to the service by increasing the number of compatible phones from an initial handful to nearly 30 different handsets, with plans to add more. The service is now open to customers on Prepay as well as Pay Monthly plans.

Goddard described the process of expanding compatibility, stating, "We started with a handful of devices, and through the hard work of our testing and network engineering teams, we tested new phones up and down the country before we certified them for satellite texting. We're now nearing 30 different handsets that you can use, with more planned."

The satellite texting capability relies on Starlink Direct to Cell satellites, operated by One NZ's partner, SpaceX. Over 500 Starlink satellites with Direct to Cell functions are now in orbit. The company reports that the increase in satellites has led to significant improvements in the speed of message delivery.

Goddard commented, "With over 500 Starlink satellites with Direct to Cell capability now in orbit, we've seen a dramatic improvement in the time it takes for a message to send or receive through space. The vast majority of messages are now sent and received within three minutes, with most in a minute or less."

One NZ has highlighted the role of its satellite network in providing an extra layer of resilience for communications during extreme weather events or power outages that affect mobile coverage. The satellite service offers an alternative for maintaining connectivity when ground-based networks are down.

"If you're a One NZ customer who values connectivity in a crisis, One NZ is the only place to be. With the service getting faster, more widely available, and now on Prepay as well on a plan, there's never been a better time to try texting through space," Goddard said.

The expansion of the service and the uptake from customers follows its emergency use during Cyclone Tam, when thousands of texts were sent as part of the response to loss of traditional coverage.

Tara Tran, a One NZ staff member, described one use case in which she relied on the satellite service to keep in contact with her children while they camped on a hilltop above Goat Island, demonstrating the practical application of the technology for New Zealand users.