Check your devices to make sure they don’t rely on the 3G network
Over the next few years, New Zealand’s mobile network providers will be closing down their legacy 3G networks, freeing up limited radio spectrum that’s needed to help bring 5G to more places in rural Aotearoa.
Spark will turn off 3G towards the end of 2025, meaning in order to connect its customers (including people who access Spark’s mobile service via Skinny, Trustpower, Megatel, and Digital Island) who still use 3G will need to move to more modern networks such as 4G and 5G.
In terms of the other two mobile network operators in New Zealand, One NZ (formerly Vodafone), plans to shut down its 3G network in 2024, and 2degrees announced this week it will close its 3G network towards the end of 2025.
READ MORE: * Spot, a 5G-powered robotic dog, and the technology of tomorrow * Spark goes 'all in' on bridging digital divide Currently, 3G represents less than four percent of Spark's total network data traffic, so the vast majority of Spark’s mobile customers will not notice any change.
For those still connecting to 3G, it is likely to be either because 4G is not yet available in their area, or because their mobile device is an older model that is not capable of making calls over 4G.
“Spark will be improving 4G coverage in the few areas where there is currently only 3G available, as well as continuing to invest in both its 4G and 5G rollouts before the 3G shutdown,” says network and operations director, Renee Mateparae.
There are some Spark customers – mostly people with older phones – where their device is defaulting to the 3G network to make voice calls, even where 4G is available.
That’s because models like the iPhone 5 and 6 and older Samsung and Huawei phones don’t have 4G capability for calls. Other customers may have the capability on their phone but simply need to enable it in their settings.
People with these devices will need to to check if their phone is capable of making 4G calls before the 2025 shutdown. "We will be proactively contacting our customers who will need to replace their phone ahead of our 3G closure," Mateparae says.
“Our 3G network enabled New Zealanders to use the internet for the first time on their mobile phones. And while it’s served us very well, 14 years on newer mobile generations are far better suited to meet today's needs.” – Renee Mateparae, Spark network and operations director
It doesn’t have to be an expensive replacement. Customers can buy a 4G ready mobile device, which they can use for texts, data and calling, from Spark from as little as $129, she says.
(Click here to check if your phone works for calling on 4G – otherwise known as being compatible with VoLTE).
Spark (then Telecom NZ) first introduced 3G in Aotearoa back in 2009. Since then, mobile technologies have continued to advance with the introduction of faster and more versatile 4G and 5G networks.
“Our 3G network enabled New Zealanders to use the internet for the first time on their mobile phones. And while it’s served us very well, 14 years on newer mobile generations are far better suited to meet today's needs,” Mateparae says.
New Zealand isn't alone. Many international telcos are also in the process of shutting down their 3G networks. In the US, 3G largely disappeared in 2022, and in the UK, three out of the four biggest providers will have switched off by the end of 2024.
Mateparae says closing its legacy 3G network will enable its 5G rollout in rural areas of Aotearoa. This will ultimately mean rural New Zealanders will have greater access to higher internet speeds and capacity – something which is increasingly important for businesses outside the main centres if they want to compete with their urban counterparts and become more productive and sustainable through technology.
The power of 5G
The current 5G network is already a step above 4G. But within the next 12 to 18 months, Spark expects to adopt so-called ‘5G standalone’, Mateparae says.
“This will introduce a whole world of possibilities not available to people today, such as network slicing.
"Today our network is tuned to provide the best experience across a variety of devices. ‘Slicing’ provides the ability to tailor or ‘slice’ the network and then tune that ‘slice’ based on a specific use type."
For example, if you think of your wireless internet connection as a large pipe, you can essentially divide parts of that pipe and dedicate them to specific uses, she says.
"In a rural setting this could mean dedicating one slice for IoT [internet of things] devices that monitor water or soil. These devices require low levels of data and power. Then a further slice could be created for connectivity on the farm, with a different set of requirements."
Mateparae says exciting work is being done in video analytics for the agricultural and horticultural sector, including a partnership between Spark and large-scale Pukekohe market gardeners Hira Bhana.
Sensors measuring soil temperature, moisture, and electrical conductivity were installed on the Hira Bhana farm, providing real-time data to improve productivity and optimise resource utilisation.
While the Hira Bhana technology operates on the 4G network at the moment, once 5G is deployed it will allow for faster speeds and the capacity to handle more information and devices.
"5G standalone will be a major breakthrough, especially for some of the tech use cases involving large data loads," Mateparae says.
This includes monitoring fish populations in an aquaculture setting, for example.
"With 4G, you could obtain a low-resolution image of the fish and have a rough idea of how they were going. Once you move to 5G, because of the increased resolution you could examine the scales on the fish to assess their health and administer antibiotics to the populations as necessary, taking action in real time.”
Currently 5G allows applications like early detection of forest fires, measuring water quality, monitoring remote equipment, and fleet tracking in real time. The expansion of 5G will allow even more innovative applications in rural New Zealand, Mateparae says.
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