Improved Cell Phone Coverage for Waitotara

The new cellphone tower installed by the Rural Connectivity Group* (RCG) above Waitotara village went live this week.

The RCG network is providing 4G services from Spark, Vodafone and 2degrees. The upgrade means that voice calling is handled a little differently and customers will have to enable 4G voice calling on their phones. This may require a software update and in some cases customers may need to upgrade their phone.

For more information contact your provider:

Spark’s customers can contact customer services on 123 or online at https://www.spark.co.nz/help/mobile/understand/volte/

2degrees customers can contact customer services on 0800 022 022 or online at

https://www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/help-and-support/broadband-and-landline/broadband/rural-broadband/

Vodafone’s customers can contact customer services on 0800 800 021 or online at http://help.vodafone.co.nz/app/answers/detail/a_id/30264

Please note that Skinny phones are not yet capable of 4G voice calling and are not expected to be enabled for another few months.

Note:

*The Rural Connectivity Group is a funded entity created to build the 4G broadband and mobile cell sites required under the Rural Broadband Initiative 2 (RBI2) and the Mobile Black Spots (MBS) programmes.

RCG is working with Crown Infrastructure Partners to enable as many Kiwis, businesses, and tourists, to have access to critical mobile and wireless broadband services in rural New Zealand.

The cell sites will be shared by New Zealand’s mobile network operators – Vodafone, Spark, 2degrees – to provide mobile services from all three mobile companies and ensure competitive broadband services to rural customers. The towers will also be open access for wireless internet service providers to utilise.