Following the wild weather across Aotearoa including Wellington and Canterbury, the One NZ Satellite texting service has been opened to more customers located in Palmerston North, down through the South Island.
At present, despite the weather, One NZ’s network is operating well throughout the regions, however some cell sites are running on limited battery backup due to local power outages.
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.
This means most 4G and 5G phones can access basic messaging (SMS), and you can check your device eligibility here: https://one.nz/our-networks/volte/
Satellite texting means customers could text a loved one and ask them to call 111 or emergency services if needed, if they are in an area where traditional mobile or connectivity networks are disrupted, and they have line of sight to the sky. This service isn’t intended to replace the existing mobile network but acts as a vital safety net, a backup that can save lives during disaster.
Ian Sutton, Head of Network Services
While our network is currently operating well, we wanted to get ahead of the potential weather impact, by opening the satellite network up to enable more One NZ customers to send or receive basic text messages. We know how important connectivity is for our customers, and we want to help keep them in touch in an emergency.
