Comms Connect to cover One NZ's satellite-to-mobile service

Five months since its initial launch, One NZ’s Satellite text service has already been used by New Zealanders to send over one million messages. Attendees of Comms Connect New Zealand will have the chance to hear all about this groundbreaking satellite-to-mobile service in a keynote presentation by Sharina Nisha, One NZ’s GM Network Services.

Delivered in partnership with SpaceX and Starlink, the service gives users with a VoLTE-capable roaming device the ability to send and receive text messages wherever they have clear line of sight to the sky. It thus offers coverage in the 40% of New Zealand’s landmass that is not covered by traditional mobile networks — plus approximately 20 km out to sea — as well as an extra layer of resilience in extreme weather events that affect power to the ground-based mobile network.

“We were stoked to be the first telco in the world to launch a nationwide satellite text service in December, following successful tests during emergency situations in the USA,” said Joe Goddard, Experience & Commercial Director at One NZ.

“One NZ Satellite TXT is like packing a coat in case it rains, with the added benefit that it also keeps you warm. It’s an extra layer of protection when you need it, and essential in a storm.”

While the service was initially open only to customers with certain phones and on monthly plans, it has now been expanded to include almost 30 eligible handsets as well as customers on prepaid plans, which has made the million-text milestone possible. As noted by Goddard, “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.”

Throughout the last few months, SpaceX has continued to launch Starlink Direct to Cell satellites that power the texting service. Goddard noted, “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.”

For more information about the service, attend Sharina Nisha’s keynote, ‘Launching One NZ satellite-to-mobile coverage — a global first’, at Comms Connect New Zealand on 4 June.