Spark New Zealand Unveils Plans for Satellite-Connected Cell Towers Network

New Zealand operator Spark reports successfully sending its first text message via satellite. Spark has also unveiled plans to establish a network of satellite-connected cell towers throughout the country, to ensure that every region in New Zealand has access to a basic level of mobile connectivity during emergencies when fibre backhaul becomes compromised.

• Make Telecom Talk My Trusted Source
• 
• 

Also Read: Spark, Netlinkz to Bring Starlink Business-Grade Satellite Broadband to New Zealand

Satellite Text Message Success

Spark announced it sent the first text message via satellite at 10:47 am last Friday with satellite partner Lynk. The text was sent by Spark engineers from a standard mobile, positioned in a mobile blackspot near Kawakawa Bay in Auckland, via one of Lynk’s satellites approximately 500 kilometres overhead, travelling at around 27 thousand kilometres per hour. Following this success, Spark said it will begin trials later this year and will expand them further next year.

Deployment of Temporary Cell Towers

In addition to implementing new satellite-to-mobile technology, by the end of the year, Spark will also deploy satellite-connected temporary cell towers across Northland, Auckland, Napier, Palmerston North, and Canterbury. These towers will be readily available to deploy in case Spark’s mobile network is impacted by fibre damage. Spark also has plans to expand to additional sites in the future.

“We want to leverage satellite technology to its fullest potential so that we can help our customers stay connected when they need it most. This means getting satellite connectivity accessible on mobile phones, while also looking at satellite backhaul solutions, which are becoming more widely available and help us connect cell towers back into the network when fibre is damaged,” said Spark NZ.