Introducing a modern twist on the traditional museum experience, Spark has today launched New Zealand’s first interactive 5G Street Museum – a co-created series of 5G-powered augmented reality (AR) experiences that bring to life unseen stories of some of our nation’s most iconic creatives: Parris Goebel, Benee, David Dallas, Teeks, and Askew One.

The Spark 5G Street Museum app is free to download. The Street Museum exhibits can be viewed by  the public across select streets in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Each exhibition explores new forms of storytelling and self-expression through the power of 5G and AR:

• Parris Goebel is giving fans the chance to dance alongside her in an immersive 3D experience that showcases the incredible superhuman transformation Parris experiences when she performs.
• Benee has built a thriving natural AR world of positivity and fun – The Beneeverse. This exhibit embodies the source of her creative inspiration – a magical world where nature and imagination are flourishing.
• David Dallas walks us through a breakthrough moment that saw him become one of the brightest stars on the NZ hip-hop circuit and one of our most-streamed albums in the last decade.
• Teeks invites us to step into the waharoa and witness his personal experience as a singer song writer and how performing is a spiritual and ritualistic practice that connects him to his tūpuna (ancestors).
• Askew One is paying homage to the strength of New Zealand’s urban and street art culture, bringing together decades of artists in a story of resilience and rebirth.

Spark Marketing Director Matt Bain, who oversees data and automation, marketing, and brand experience says that the Spark 5G Street Museum is about demonstrating to Kiwis what emerging technologies like 5G and AR can do for Aotearoa, whether it be art, culture or the next era of entertainment.

“Over the decades we’ve seen how the wireless evolution has transformed how we engage with the world. 1G enabled calls on the go, 2G introduced text messages, 3G gave us internet on the go, and 4G brought us video on demand. 5G promises to deliver another step-change in our experience.”

“We’ve now got 5G in 21 locations nationwide and if the previous generations have taught us anything, it’s that it’s going to fundamentally change how we work, learn, connect, and are entertained. Spark’s 5G St Museum has enabled world-class creators – artists, dancers and singers –to explore entirely new ways of expressing themselves and in turn, with the speed and capability of 5G, offer their audience a new, immersive way to engage with them at scale and in the highest definition possible,” says Matt.

World-renowned dancer and choreographer Parris Goebel says she’s excited to partner with Spark to share her newly choreographed dance exclusively with Aotearoa in a way she’s never done before.

“To be able to create art in a world where I can do almost anything I want is super exciting. I worked with Spark in a purpose built studio in Los Angeles, wearing a full-body motion capture suit that captured my every move which was then recorded and scanned to build an augmented reality avatar of myself. The inspiration behind my exhibition is about unleashing the inner power that’s within us all.  I wanted people to see the feeling I experience when I move – powerful, unstoppable, invincible and like a superhuman version of myself.”

Also on showcase, popular New Zealand musician Benee (Stella Bennett) welcomes viewers into the Beneeverse – a whimsical natural world of positivity and fun emulating her creative inspiration.

“The natural world is hugely important to me – mentally, physically, and creatively. It’s something I’ve learned to appreciate more as I’ve spent more time overseas. My exhibition is about creating a place where my fans can step into my fantasy wonderland and be reminded of how rich, diverse and precious our world is,” says Benee.

Māori soul-singer Teeks (Te Karehana Gardiner-Toi) has harnessed the power of 5G and AR to create an exhibit that draws on his connection with his tūpuna (ancestors) and whakapapa – creating a visually and spiritually enlightening journey into the depths of his creative processes.

“When I sing, I feel as though I’m opening portals to the ancestral realm. It’s a place of surrender and a deeply spiritual and ritualistic process for me – as though I’m within a whare wānanga. My exhibition is about bringing this journey to life and through the intersection of technology and performance art, I hope this inspires young tamariki to dream big and embrace their whole identity,” says Teeks.

Askew One’s (Elliot O’Donnell) exhibit features a bespoke 3D graffiti art piece designed to incorporate the names, tags, and styles of graffiti artists who created urban street culture history and paved the way for many artists today.

“I had already started to explore how technology can add another element to graffiti art, so I was really pumped when I was asked to create this exhibition with Spark. I wanted to visualise the less known story of how graffiti artists moved underground and bring the fragments of this art to the surface for people to appreciate in an entirely new dimension,” says Askew One.

The fifth exhibition has been co-created with David Dallas and shares the breakthrough moment that saw him become one of the brightest stars on the New Zealand hip-hop circuit.

“The concept behind my exhibit was to illustrate my starting point as a solo artist. I came from being in a group and I wanted to show the journey of how I stepped out into my solo career. I distinctively remember the day I met with director Joel Kefali and being challenged on what my aesthetic was. This was a turning point for me, and from then I worked to differentiate myself from what was going on in hip hop at the time and also what I’d done before. Bringing something brighter and more up-beat” says Dallas.

Spark’s 5G Street Museum is on showcase for the next four months. Kiwis can view the AR exhibitions by downloading the free ‘Spark 5G Street Museum’ app (iOS and Android) and scanning the QR codes featured at exhibitions. Spark mobile customers will not be charged for data usage whilst viewing the Spark 5G Street Museum exhibitions.

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Ahead of the scheduled Q1 2022 customer launch, NZ’s 2degrees 5G network, has been switched ON in central Auckland and Wellington for testing and optimisation.

As part of a rollout that will see contiguous 5G coverage across Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch initially, the network is humming at speeds that will shake up the market and new sites are coming on-line every week.

2degrees CTO Martin Sharrock says, “5G has now been enabled for test and optimisation purposes in Auckland and Wellington. The 2degrees team is gathering valuable data on network and device performance, upload and download speeds, latency and handovers. Early test results have demonstrated speeds over 1Gbps. Work has also begun in Christchurch with the first 5G sites due online for testing in December.

“Over the coming months the team will be rigorously testing 5G on numerous devices so when this new network and technology is launched for customers it will be fully optimised on a range of 5G enabled devices. We’re thrilled with the early test results and can’t wait to complete our optimisation work and officially launch the 5G network to our customers.

“Kiwis have come to expect immediate access to data and faster download times for business purposes as well as streaming and gaming. The timing of our network upgrade and 5G launch meets the growing demand from customers for greater connectivity and speed,” added Martin Sharrock.

2degrees’ strategic approach to network design and build, combines upgrading cell sites with brand new Ericsson 3G, 4G, and 5G radio access network (RAN) equipment with upgrading the core network. This programme of work has been underway for over two years and builds on the $1billion already spent on the network.

Talking about the 2degrees network, Martin Sharrock says, “Our driving goal has been to ensure an enhanced network experience for Kiwis no matter whether they are using our 3G, 4G or 5G network, or moving across networks as they travel the length and breadth of Aotearoa.

“We expect to launch the 2degrees 5G network with up to 100 sites on air, and we’ll continue to turn on additional sites throughout 2022 as we build out the network across our main cities. One of the many benefits to mobile customers will be the creation of a contiguous 5G experience in areas where there is highest demand and uptake. As the network build radiates out from the city centres in a planned manner, over time, customers will experience continual 5G connectivity as they move across the city.

“In addition, as we continue to evolve our mobile network and add 5G capability, Kiwis will also reap the benefit of significantly increased 4G capability. 4G capacity will on average double after the network upgrades in these areas,” says Martin Sharrock

Over 100 network, IT, and civil engineers, technicians, testers, and project managers have been part of the largest technology upgrade undertaken since 2degrees launched in 2009. It’s projects like these, which are essential for keeping Kiwis connected, that truly demonstrate what is achievable during challenging times.

The 2degrees team has worked within strict COVID-19 guidelines, faced delays due to bad weather and travel restrictions and solved technical challenges with creativity and innovative thinking to upgrade an award-winning network with new, world-leading mobile technology for Kiwis.

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2degrees has spent over $1 billion on improving its network in the past 12 years, a spend that has paid off, with the network earning recognition as best in its class from multiple industry bodies in 2021.

This included global leader in broadband network intelligence Ookla, who recently put mobile network operators through their paces and found 2degrees 4G mobile data network to be the most reliable, consistent, and best available in New Zealand for quarter 2 (Q2) 2021.

“Our purpose is to fight for fair to make New Zealand a better place to live, and everything we do starts with providing an excellent network for our customers, paired with great value and customer service,” says Martin Sharrock, Chief Technology Officer at 2degrees.

“Our network has grown extremely quickly since we launched 12 years ago, to cover 98.5% of the places Kiwis live and work, and we’re more confident than ever that we provide excellent service across Aotearoa.”

2degrees’ network has seen major improvements across the country, including along key transport routes in recent years. Nationally 2degrees 4G state highway coverage has increased by 20% between Q2 2019 and Q2 2021, extending 4G coverage to more than 2,000 kilometres of state highway.

Just some examples of network improvements are the number of 2degrees sites in Otago have increased by 100% since Q2 2019 (compared with Q2 2021), with state highway coverage increasing by 36%. The Manawatu-Wanganui region has seen the number of sites almost doubled, which has led to a 19% increase in state highway 4G coverage. In Canterbury there has been a nearly 16% increase in the state highway coverage thanks to 62 new cell sites across the Canterbury region between Q2 2019 and Q2 2021.

“It’s important to us to provide great coverage where Kiwis live and work, and on their journeys on New Zealand’s highways and byways,” adds Martin Sharrock. “We’re incredibly proud of the performance of our network and are thrilled to receive independent recognition.”

2degrees has won a raft of major network-related achievements in 2021 including:

New Zealand’s Most Reliable 4G Network, Ookla, Q2 2021
New Zealand’s Most Consistent 4G Network, Ookla, Q2 2021
New Zealand’s Best 4G Network Availability, Ookla, Q2 2021
Video Experience (Opensignal Awards – New Zealand: Mobile Network Experience Report May 2021)
Upload Speed Experience (Opensignal Awards – New Zealand: Mobile Network Experience Report May 2021)
4G Availability (Opensignal Awards – New Zealand: Mobile Network Experience Report May 2021)

This year has brought great success for the 2degrees network, and Martin Sharrock says the company has even more improvement in its sights. “Great network performance is our number one priority, and we’re continuing to invest in it, with our new 5G network build underway.”

To add to these successes, 2degrees has recently been named the winner of the Canstar Small Business Telecommunications Most Satisfied Customers award for 2021. The award recognises a range of different drivers which contribute to customer satisfaction, including network, and 2degrees scored 5 out of 5 stars in this category, the most of any telco included in the survey results.

2degrees has also this month been named winner of the People’s Choice Award for Broadband, and joint winner in Mobile Services, in the Consumer NZ 2021 Mobile and Internet Satisfaction Survey.

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HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, has announced the expansion of its range at Spark NZ.

The leading New Zealand phone carrier will soon offer at least one device across the newly named X, G and C-Series Nokia smartphones.

The hero device of the line-up is the Nokia X20 5G, designed to withstand the hustle and bustle of everyday life and backed by Nokia mobile’s industry-leading three year warranty.  The device also comes with two years of Android OS Updates and three years of security updates as well as a 100% compostable case in the box. Customers will also receive the Nokia Power Earbuds Lite as a gift with purchase with the Nokia X20.

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G Mobile Platform, the Nokia X20 delivers series-defying performance and truly global 5G.

Ready and waiting to capture the world in crisp detail whether day or night, the Nokia X20 uses the versatile AI-powered 64MP quad camera with renowned ZEISS Optics.

Featuring an ultra-wide lens for impressive scenic views, a macro-lens for intricate close-ups, and a depth sensor for portraits that stand out. Plus, the new Dual Sight Multi-Cam mode gives the ability to shoot videos using the front and rear cameras simultaneously.

The Nokia G10 is available from today and bolsters Spark’s G-Series offering, joining the already launched Nokia G20. A hard worker for its attractive price point with a 5050mAh battery, it powers through up to three days on a single charge and the generous 6.5” display is big enough for the whole family to gather around and enjoy.

Continuing to offer the quality Nokia phones are known and trusted for, the Nokia G10 also offers customers added peace of mind with a three year warranty, as well as three years of monthly security updates and two years software upgrades.

James Robinson, ANZ Country Manager, HMD Global said: “At HMD Global, we take pride in looking after our customers for longer and we’re proud to introduce new Nokia smartphones that are backed by our three year warranty. Throughout our range and regardless of price point, our devices are built to last. We’re pleased to be able to offer more reliable and affordable devices into the hands of Kiwis for them to love, trust and keep for today and years to come.”

Keryn Possin, Device Sourcing Manager at Spark New Zealand, said: “It was an obvious choice for us to expand our range of Nokia phones for our customers. Nokia is a name trusted by Kiwis and we know that Nokia phones offer what is important to our customers- value for money, the latest features and generous warranties.”

The Nokia C01 Plus will be the last of the new smartphones to arrive at Spark this September. Bringing renowned Finnish reliability to one of the lowest-priced Nokia smartphones, it’s an attractive option for price-sensitive customers looking for long-lasting battery and durability.

All devices offer clean, easy to use and customisable pure Android experience free of bloatware and third-party apps.

The Nokia G10 in Night (3 GB / 32 GB variant) is available now. The Nokia X20 in Nordic Blue (6 GB / 128 GB variant) is now available.

And finally the Nokia C01 Plus in Blue (2 GB / 16GB variant) will be available from September 2021 from Spark.

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Spark in partnership with Eden Park will be switching on 5G at New Zealand’s national stadium this Saturday, where thousands of fans are expected to attend Eden Park’s first ever concert – SIX60.

Eden Park will become the first 5G-connected stadium in Auckland, giving guests who have a 5G compatible phone access to super-fast speeds and outstanding reliability to share videos and photos of the long-anticipated event.

Spark’s Technology Director, Mark Beder says that this is an exciting extension to our partnership with Eden Park and that while the immediate benefit of 5G will be faster and more reliable connectivity compared to 4G, it’s only the start of how 5G will enhance the way New Zealanders watch their favourite sporting match or experience a world-class event.

“One of the key differences between 4G and 5G is its ability to enable mass connectivity, which will take us from a world of not just connecting people, but to a world of connecting almost anything.

“In the future, 5G will completely transform the way we experience live events. This could be anything from using virtual reality to provide fans with front-row concert experiences from their couch, improving in-person experiences with augmented reality, or reducing the time waiting in a queue for drinks and food with artificial intelligence self-service checkouts. The opportunities to improve customer experience and business efficiency are endless.”

At this stage, coverage extends over 75% of Eden Park with 5G available in the East and West Stand, the No.1 Field, the lower South Stand and part of the lower North Stand, with the view of expanding this further over the coming months.

Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner says the initiative will further align the 118-year-old stadium with some of the world’s best venues.

“We are thrilled to work alongside Spark to enhance the experience at New Zealand’s national stadium with 5G for both fans at major events and functions throughout the year. Technology plays an integral role in delivering unforgettable events and we look forward to continuing to upgrade our fan experience through partnerships with brands like Spark,” says Sautner.

Fans who want to experience what 5G can offer at SIX60 this Saturday 24th April 2021 will need to have a 5G compatible mobile phone.

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Vodafone New Zealand and Sony Interactive Entertainment New Zealand Ltd (SIENZ) today announce an exciting new partnership, with the ultimate aim of boosting digital inclusion throughout Aotearoa through the medium of gaming.

The partnership, kicking off with the sale of a limited number of PlayStation 5 units to Vodafone customers on 12 November* 2020, aligns two of New Zealand’s leading digital businesses and promises to bring greater access to gaming for all New Zealanders in 2021.

Vodafone Consumer Director Carolyn Luey says she is thrilled Vodafone has teamed up with the makers of Aotearoa’s popular gaming console.

“A great many Kiwis already enjoy gaming with PlayStation, and we look forward to helping even more of our customers discover the benefits it can bring through this partnership,” she says.

“Gaming brings people together, and develops valuable skills such as problem-solving, concentration and critical thinking. It is enjoyed by people of all walks of life, age and gender, and is increasing in popularity at an exponential rate.”

The partnership with SIENZ adds another dimension to Vodafone’s support of esports. The digital services business announced a partnership with esports provider LetsPlay.Live (LPL) in 2019 and, together with LPL, has produced esports tournaments, leagues, and experiences throughout 2020.

General Manager Sony Interactive ANZ Goncalo Fialho says that there is a great alignment between Vodafone and SIENZ and the team are excited about the possibilities the partnership opens up.

“The power of the latest generation of PlayStation, combined with Vodafone’s strong connectivity, is a winning combination for New Zealand households,” he says.

“But greater than this are the opportunities this partnership unlocks for the future: an enhanced level of gaming that is more accessible to New Zealanders than ever before. Watch this space!”

To find out more visit www.vodafone.co.nz/ps5

* The PS5 console will be made available to order *online only* on launch day, 12th November, 2020. Units will not be available for in-store purchase, please continue to check back online for further updates.

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Spark announced today it is the exclusive partner for Microsoft’s Xbox All Access program in New Zealand, offering a simple and affordable new way to get the best in gaming with Xbox.

Beginning today, both new and existing Spark customers can join the Xbox All Access program as part of eligible Pay Monthly mobile or broadband plans. With Xbox All Access, customers can choose from Xbox One S or Xbox One X bundles and get 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for only NZD $32 or NZD $39 per month over a 24-month period.

With Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, customers get all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold, including online multiplayer, plus access to more than 100 high-quality games on console and PC. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate even includes Xbox Game Studios titles the same day as their global release, so members can immediately jump into the latest from franchises like Halo, Gears of War and Minecraft, including the highly anticipated upcoming Minecraft Dungeons, available for members on May 26, 2020.

Joining the line-up of entertainment options Spark customers can already add to their plans, Xbox All Access provides everything you need to start gaming right out of the box and is an affordable way to join the Xbox family and community of gamers around the world.

Matt Bain, Spark’s Marketing Director says Spark is excited to join forces with Xbox to bring Xbox All Access to customers in New Zealand.

“I believe gaming has huge potential as a digital subscription service – we’ve already seen this transformation with movies and music. We’re excited to bring Microsoft’s industry-leading Xbox Game Pass membership to more gamers in New Zealand with Xbox All Access,” Bain said.

“One of the exciting things about this digital evolution is that it enables greater access and choice for households and that’s definitely true for Xbox All Access. It’s ideal for players who want flexibility in their purchasing options, offering great value and an awesome gaming experience with Spark.”

Jeremy Hinton from Microsoft says the company is thrilled to be working with Spark to bring Xbox All Access to New Zealanders, following success in Australia, US and the UK.

“With Xbox All Access we are bringing more choice than ever before to New Zealand. Our partnership with Spark will offer an affordable and convenient way for new and existing Xbox fans to jump into gaming.”

Visit the official site to find out more.

Everyone that works on STG is a volunteer. If you like the site and it’s contents please think about donating. Even a small amount helps keep the servers running.

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Technology enthusiasts will benefit from an additional year of 5G for free, as Vodafone NZ announced today it is delaying the expected $10 monthly add-on charge for 5G through to July 2021.

This comes as the company is gearing up to further strengthen its 5G network as lockdown restrictions continue to ease.

Carolyn Luey, Consumer Director, explains: “We remain incredibly committed to continuing to bring next generation mobile technology, 5G, to more New Zealanders and expanding our existing nationwide 5G network as soon as possible. The pandemic has proven connectivity is more important than ever, and we want our customers to have access to the best network technology available.

“To thank early adopters and existing customers for their loyalty, at a time when the discretionary spend of many New Zealanders is impacted, we have decided to delay the $10 monthly add-on charge for 5G for one year. We also believe there will be a greater number of 5G-connected devices and handsets available by then.

“This means existing Vodafone mobile customers can get 5G for free for another year, and then to access 5G from 1 July 2021 they can purchase a 5G add-on for $10 per connection, per month (or the equivalent Prepay term).

Vodafone NZ 5G_launch: Jason Paris & Tony Baird

“We’re proud to be investing in New Zealand’s next generation mobile infrastructure, and we are confident of the additional value that 5G will deliver as more and more amazing 5G applications emerge.”

Vodafone NZ launched 5G in parts of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown in December 2019 and is the first and currently the only New Zealand company to operate a 5G mobile network.

For more information, please visit: Vodafone.co.nz/5G.

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Spark is the first New Zealand mobile provider to support the long-anticipated eSIM technology in time for today’s launch of the latest eSIM compatible Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G.

Spark’s Mobile Lead, Renee Mateparae explains that historically, mobile devices required a physical SIM card to access the mobile network and this meant a physical SIM card slot had to be made available inside phones and any connected devices, such as wearables and watches.

“Today, with the introduction of eSIM (embedded SIM cards) Spark customers can enjoy a range of benefits including the ability to stay connected with unlimited voice, text and data on their Galaxy Watch 4G alone. This means customers no longer need to have their mobile phone nearby and can stay connected through the watch when hitting the gym or on a night out when you don’t want to carry a phone.”

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G, on a new Unlimited Wearable Plan, will give Kiwis an undoubtedly liberating feeling as they will now have the ability to receive notifications, make calls, sends texts, and use apps such as Spotifyiii without needing to be within range of a phone or a Wi-Fi network.

“Spark has been working hard to get eSIM technology up and running as quickly as possible so customers can take advantage of the greater flexibility, choice and value. We see great potential in eSIM technology, and we’re excited to not only be the first to bring the capability to market but we are also looking forward to launching further functionalities along with compatible devices throughout the year,” says Renee.

For further details on Spark’s Unlimited Wearable Plan and list of compatible eSIM devices see the Spark NZ Official Site.

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