Following wild weather and flooding in the Nelson-Tasman region, the One NZ Satellite texting service has been opened to more customers located in the top of the South Island.
Due to the storm and power outages, a number of mobile cell sites are not operating in the region. While all One NZ cell sites have battery back-up, following power cuts these batteries are running low or have been exhausted, meaning that in some areas mobile services are limited.
The One NZ Satellite service delivered in partnership with Starlink Direct to Cell enables One NZ customers with a VoLTE-capable roaming device the ability to send and receive text messages at no extra charge. The extended service area covers the South Island, north of Rangiora.
Sharina Nisha, GM Network Services
We understand how important mobile communication is as a lifeline, and this satellite-based text service offers a resilient alternative. Opening the network up enables more One NZ customers to send or receive basic text messages while we work to get our terrestrial cell network restored in the Nelson-Tasman region.
